What's checked in an MOT: how to pass an MOT first time
Making a few checks to your car before its MOT can make all the difference between a pass and a fail. Here’s what you need to know...
No matter what a driver owns, MOTs can be a daunting time, with many fearing that the tester will uncover an issue that renders the car undrivable until it is fixed. According to official DVLA data, more than 1.9 million cars and vans failed their MOT between October and December 2024, over 650,000 of which having a dangerous fault.
You can never fully guarantee that your car will pass its next MOT with flying colours, but there are plenty of checks you can make in order to rule out a number of common issues that could result in failure.
What is checked during an MOT?
In short, an MOT tester will inspect every component of your car that could impact the safety of you, your passengers and other road users.
Items checked during an MOT include:
- Battery
- Bodywork
- Braking components
- Electrical wiring
- Engine emissions
- Exhaust system
- Horn
- Instrument panel
- Mirrors
- Numberplates
- Seatbelts
- Steering components
- Suspension components
- Tyres and wheels
- Windscreen and wipers
If any of these components are found to have an issue, the tester will add a note to the test certificate. These are designed to highlight any checks or repairs the owner will need to make for their car to remain safe to use and road legal.
The four types of defect are:
- Advisory – potential issues spotted by the tester that won’t prevent the car from passing the MOT. If your car has an advisory, you should regularly check the part or area in question and, if necessary, get it repaired before the next inspection. Common advisories include tyres and brake pads wearing thin, minor damage to the bodywork, and light rust.
- Minor – similar to advisories, these are faults that won’t cause a car to fail its MOT but could result in much bigger issues developing if left unchecked, meaning they should be fixed as soon as possible. Minor advisories include the brake fluid running low, small oil leaks, and defective wiper blades.
- Major – more serious faults and defects that will result in the car failing the MOT. This can include issues such as lights not working, suspension components being worn out, and warning lights being present.
- Dangerous – introduced in 2018, dangerous faults pose a genuine safety risk each time the vehicle is used, meaning they will result in an immediate fail. Dangerous defects include bald tyres, cracks in the windscreen that obscure the road, and issues with the suspension that affect the car’s handling.
What can I do to make sure my car passes its MOT?
Many of the reasons why a car can fail its MOT are easy to spot by spending some time with it before the test. Here are 10 of the best checks you can make to a car that is about to be inspected:
1. Brake lights
Faulty brake lights are one of the most common reasons for cars to fail their MOT, and one of the easiest to avoid. With the car’s ignition turned on, press the brake pedal and ask someone to check that the brake lights come on. You can also do this on your own by reversing the car up close to a wall or near to a window and looking over your shoulder; this is easier at night.
2. Fuel and fuel cap
Taking your car for an MOT with a very low fuel level is a mistake that can result in a fail, as the tester will need to carry out emissions checks. As a result, it’s vital that you make sure there’s plenty of fuel in the tank before driving to the garage. The fuel filler cap needs to close securely, too.
3. Headlights and indicators
Similarly, it’s vital that you check all the lights work properly, including full and dipped beam headlights, rear and side lights, hazard lights and all four indicators. Don’t forget about the front and rear foglights, either.
4. Horn
A working horn is vital to help drivers alert other road users of their presence during an emergency on the roads. When making pre-MOT checks, beep it to ensure it works properly.
5. Numberplates
Ensure that both the front and rear numberplates are clean and legible. If they’re dirty, give them a wipe, and if they’re damaged they’ll need replacing – many car spares shops can do this, although you’ll need proof of ID and proof you own the car; the V5C ‘logbook’ is ideal. Don’t forget to check the light above the rear numberplate is working.
6. Suspension
To make sure that the suspension components won’t let you down during the test, press down heavily on each front wing of your car. If the car bounces up and down instead of returning to the right position, the shock absorbers may be worn. You should also take the car for a short test drive, listening out for any unusual noises when travelling over speedbumps and potholes.
7. Seat and seatbelts
Check that the driver’s seat slides back and forwards smoothly, and look for fraying or damage on the seatbelts. You should also give each seatbelt one a good tug to ensure that it pings back into place.
8. Wheels and tyres
The Highway Code recommends you check tyres weekly, but bulges, cracks and gouges out of the tyres will all result in your car failing its MOT. Check the sidewalls, then make sure the tyre tread depth is above the legal limit of 1.6mm; if your tyres have tread depth indicators, check that the tread hasn’t worn down to the level of the indicator. Alternatively, you can put a 20 pence coin into the area between the tread; if the raised part of the coin is above the tread, the tyre is too worn.
9. Windscreen
Check for chips and cracks; any chip or crack larger than 40mm isn’t allowed. However, damage covering 10mm or more will also result in a fail if it’s located in the 290mm-wide space in front of the steering wheel, which may interfere with your view of the road.
10. Windscreen wipers
Check for splits or perishing on all wipers, and check that they clear the screens properly when they’re used. Also check and top up the screen wash if necessary.
