Craig Cox, a mechanic at Walsall Wood Tyre & Service, is making waves on TikTok with his practical advice on how drivers can avoid expensive fines and reduce running costs. His latest warning, however, might catch some motorists by surprise: a popular summer accessory could lead to your car failing its MOT.
Cox recently addressed the issue of sunstrips, a common addition to cars during the sunnier months. “Sunstrips are a real hornet’s nest when it comes to legal and safety issues,” Cox explains in one of his videos. “If your sunstrip extends more than 10mm into the swept area of your windscreen—the part that your wipers clean—then you’re running into trouble with the law.”
He goes on to elaborate: “From an MOT standpoint, the key factor we assess is whether the sunstrip actually obstructs the driver’s view of the road. If it’s just blocking their view of the clouds, it might not be a problem, but it’s a very grey area. Police, however, can take action if the sunstrip exceeds the 10mm limit in the swept area. So, my advice? Play it safe—keep your sunstrip well clear of that limit.”
According to UK MOT regulations, sunstrips should not obstruct the driver’s field of vision or significantly impair their view of the road ahead or to the sides. This is particularly crucial in the swept area of the windscreen, which is the area cleared by the wipers. Additionally, UK rules specifically prohibit sunstrips with reflective or mirrored finishes, as these can cause dangerous glare for other drivers and create significant visibility problems, especially at night.
So, before you add a sunstrip to your car this summer, think twice. It might seem like a harmless way to shield your eyes from the sun, but if it crosses that 10mm line into the wiper-cleared zone, you could be facing a failed MOT and potentially a hefty fine. As always, a little caution goes a long way in keeping both your wallet and your car in good shape.