How do I make my rolling tackroom (car) presentable for its MOT..!!!

[FestiveG]

Our local garage is owned and run by a chap who also owns a yard, run by his daughter, he never turns a hair at horse and dog owners cars ?

 

[meleeka]

I don't want to brag but err..... my horrid car was so vile it was on TopGear as many on HHO will remember
Saying that, I only kept it so vile as it was facing imminent death from an oil leak so wasn't planning on hitting it's next MOT.
I have a few mechanic friends, and as long as the car is empty of stuff that will stop them from doing their job, it's fine. I would just hoover out the worst of it and call it a day. They don't care about mud on plastic.

Your car really wasn’t that bad either! Mine’s been a lot worse, but currently just sporting a layer of mud because my princess JRT won’t go in the back with the other dog. Thank the lord for leather seats! From some of the FB comments you’d think you’d actually used your car as a toilet and not just a tack room ?

 

[humblepie]

Mine generally weren't too bad but I would always clean and polish it up to put the MOT tester in a good mood (hopefully) and make them think the car was well looked after. I know they have all the set things to look and work through but first impressions and all that. Ended up with the MOT tester as partner so must have been impressed......

 

[conniegirl]

Mine was horrific until yesterday.
i shoved all the junk into the shed, hoovered the seats and carpet, wiped the dash and then took it to the local polish guys to clean the outside. Its not perfect, but I won’t die of embarrassment when my boss gets in it later in the week.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The Skoda main dealer that we bought the Octavia Scout from nearly new 6 years ago has, since Covid, asked that vehicles be presented for MOT and servicing in a 'clean and tidy condition'. Which is fair enough

They did valet it and wash it FOC while it was in for its MOT a couple of weeks ago, so it came back sparkling, all for just the standard MOT cost.

 

[dorsetladette]

Just put a note on the steering wheel. 'Sorry I have Horses' job done!

 

[rabatsa]

Drove our small car into the big shed on Sunday, emptied everything out onto a pile, took it back out and set Mr R onto it with hosepipe and suds. Parked up and off for its MOT and service today. Cannot do anything about the smell though as Mr R works with slurry and compost, any perfumes just make it smell like someone has puked up in it.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I despise it when people try and put perfumed things over bad smells, it always makes it 10x worse!!

 

[HollyWoozle]

I went to a Waves hand car wash at a local Tesco (left it with them whilst I did my shopping) and they did an absolutely awesome job. I had been transporting hay bales in the back seat. Old car and couldn't be made 'perfect' of course but I was chuffed to drive a clean one for a short time.

 

[maisie06]

My little car has put up with a lot over the years. It has mud...everywhere (how do you get this off plastic!? It just comes back!?). Hay...everywhere and just general horse filth ?

Anyone have any tips apart from set it on fire and start again?

I take to a local car wash run by some polish guys, a cheerful lot they always laugh at the state of it! They do a fantastic job and very resonable too.

 

[scruffyponies]

Day before the MOT I empty the car. Everything I want to keep goes into a wheelbarrow. Everything else (whether I can identify it or not) gets black bagged.
If car passes MOT, wheelbarrow contents go back into the car