AN expert mechanic has urged drivers to check a little-known detail or face losing hundreds of pounds to fines.
Craig, who works at Walsall Wood Tyre & Service in Walsall, West Midlands, explained on TikTok how missing the key issue could cost you dearly.
Expert mechanic Craig revealed a key detail you should always check to avoid paying hundreds in finesTikTok/@walsallwood_tyre
In the clip, he revealed that you should always double-check the aim of your headlamps, especially after a service or MOT.
Craig said: “The output pattern of most vehicle headlights is a flat line with a small kick up on one side, usually the kerb side.
“It has to fall within a certain category.
“If it’s too high, you’re going to be blinding people coming towards you and they won’t be able to see very well.
“If it’s too low, the light output isn’t going to project as far in front of your car…and it’s going to look like you’ve got candles in jam jars for headlights.”
Indeed, if your aim is too low, it could even get to the point where your headlights don’t even appear to be on, which could land you with significant fines.
Driving without headlights could see you judged as “allowing your standard of driving to fall below that of a prudent motorist”, which is enough for cops to collar you for driving without due care and attention,
This results in a £100 fine and three penalty points on your licence.
However, if your case goes to court, you could be handed up to nine points and a £5,000 fine if the offence was deemed serious enough.
Fortunately, if you do find your headlamp aim is askew, Craig added that all you need to do is take it down to your local MOT centre.
They can check it for you and make any necessary adjustments in moments.
Just be aware that some garages do charge for this and it varies from garage to garage.
It comes after huge changes to the size of car parks were proposed amid fears of EV fires.
Meanwhile, a car servicing expert revealed how to park properly during a storm, potentially saving you thousands in maintenance bills.