Car drivers fearing the wrath of nit-picking Transport Control Department (TCD) inspectors can now pick up a checklist of things to look out for.

TCD Director Kevin Monkman said the move would help the public get through the yearly exam and remove the feeling that decisions were taken at the whim of a particular inspector. The tips have been available for the past couple of weeks - a similar sheet is now being prepared for bikers and should be out in the next couple of months.

A more technical manual has also been given to garages so they can get cars in tip-top shape.

Among the pointers for motorists are: rust spots must not be greater than the size of a quarter with no more than one corrosion spot per panel and no more than three rust spots in total, tints must be non-reflective, vehicles must not be able to roll with the hand brake applied and paintwork must match with a maximum of three colours.

Mr. Monkman said: "We are trying to make it consistent so somebody doesn't get failed for something while another motorist gets passed for the same thing.

"Inconsistency is the thing we get complaints about most and that's something we are trying to correct."

However one moped rider The Royal Gazette spoke to on Monday complained that TCD examiners were still coming up with seemingly arbitrary complaints with one complaining about fading paintwork.

She said: "How does that affect anything?"