Prepare for your MOT — a practical checklist

Most first-time MOT failures are preventable with a short walk-around before you book. This checklist covers what you can sensibly check yourself. It does not replace a professional inspection, and an MOT still only proves the car met the minimum standard on the day of the test.

Before you start

• Park on level ground with the handbrake on.
• Have the handbook nearby for tyre pressures and warning-light meanings.
• Book with enough time for repairs if something fails — rushing the week a certificate expires is how people end up stranded.

Lights and electrical

Switch on sidelights, headlights (main and dipped), fog lights if fitted, brake lights (ask someone to watch or use a reflection), indicators, hazard lights and number-plate lamps. Replace blown bulbs before the test. Headlamp aim is harder to DIY — if beams look wildly uneven, ask a garage.

Tyres and wheels

• Legal minimum tread depth for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread — many advisers replace nearer 3 mm for wet grip.
• Check for cuts, bulges and cords showing.
• Tyres on the same axle should be a compatible type; obvious mismatches raise questions.
• Wheel nuts present; no dangerous corrosion on hubs you can see.

Brakes and warning lights

The dash should not show red brake or ABS warnings that indicate a fault. The handbrake should hold firmly on a slope. You cannot measure pad thickness accurately without removing wheels — if the pedal feels spongy or the car pulls under braking, get a garage to inspect before the MOT.

Glass, wipers and washers

Wipers should clear the screen without juddering; top up washer fluid. Chips or cracks in the driver’s view can fail the test depending on size and zone — if in doubt, repair early. Mirrors should be secure.

Horn, seatbelts, doors and boot

Horn must work. Seatbelts should retract and latch cleanly. Doors, bonnet and boot should latch securely. Child seats are not part of the MOT in the same way, but loose objects in the cabin are a distraction — clear the car.

Registration plates

Plates must be legal, readable and not obscured by dirt or tow-ball covers. Illegal fonts or spacing can fail.

What an MOT does not prove

An MOT is not a service and not a warranty. Clutches, engines and many electronic comfort features are outside the test. Read what an MOT checks and keep service history as well as MOT history.

After the test

If you pass with advisories, treat them as a maintenance list — especially tyres, brakes, corrosion and leaks. Our advisories guide explains the categories. If you fail, you generally need repairs and a retest; see car failed MOT — what to do.

When you are buying rather than preparing your own car, run a free MOT history check first so you know whether the seller’s “just MOT’d” claim hides a page of advisories.