Audible Warning (7)

Formerly MOT Test of horn

An audible warning must be loud enough to be heard by other road users.

For vehicles first used on or after 1 August 1973, the sound emitted must be continuous or uniform. It can’t be harsh or grating.

The following can’t be used as an audible warning:

gongs
bells
sirens
anything that has more than one tone

However, on vehicles first used before 1906 the audible warning can be a gong, bell or siren.

The following categories apply to defects in this section:

Defect	Category
a. Audible warning: i. not working properly	Minor
ii. inoperative	Major
b. Audible warning control insecure	Minor
c. Audible warning: i. sound not in accordance with requirements	Minor
ii. sound likely to be confused with an emergency vehicle siren	Major

Note: The requirement that control can be easily reached by the driver appears to have been omitted by the regulators – this may be in error on their part.

Link to all MOT Test procedures and failure items descriptions HERE