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MOT

How to prepare your car for its MOT

UK pre-MOT checklist: lights, tyres, wipers, fluids, number plates, warning lights and the common fails you can catch at home.

Time:
20–45 minutes
Level:
Beginner
Videos:
3 how-tos

Before you start

An MOT checks whether your car meets minimum legal safety and environmental standards on the day of the test. A home pre-check cannot guarantee a pass, but lights, tyres and visibility faults cause a huge share of fails — and most are cheap to spot before you book.

What you’ll need

  • Helper to check brake lights / indicators
  • Torch
  • Tyre tread depth gauge or 20p coin
  • Screenwash and cloth
  • GOV.UK MOT history for previous advisories

Watch a good how-to

Popular walkthroughs that match this job. Watch for technique — always follow your handbook for torque figures, jacking points and fluids.

How to Check a Car Before an MOT

Halfords · Short official UK pre-MOT walk-around from a major retailer.

Open on YouTube ↗

Just 3 Things Cause 50% Of All MOT Inspection Test Fails

TorqueCars · Focuses on the common, avoidable fail groups from MOT data.

Open on YouTube ↗

Prepare Your Car for an MOT: Simple Checks You Can Do at Home

The Bimmer Fixer · Practical driveway checklist covering tyres, fluids and lights.

Open on YouTube ↗

Step-by-step guide

  1. 1

    Test every exterior light: sidelights, dipped and main beam, indicators, hazards, brake lights, reverse, rear fog and number-plate lamps. Wrong-colour bulbs can fail.

  2. 2

    Check all tyres (including the spare if fitted) for legal tread, cuts, bulges, cords and correct cold pressure. Look at the inner edges.

  3. 3

    Inspect the windscreen in the driver’s view for chips/cracks, and confirm wipers clear without smearing. Top up screenwash and test the washer jets.

  4. 4

    Check horn, seatbelts (latch, retract, fraying), mirrors, registration plates (present, secure, readable) and that doors/bonnet latch.

  5. 5

    Look at the dashboard with ignition on: ABS, airbag, brake and engine lamps that stay on may fail the test.

  6. 6

    Clear boot clutter that blocks the light check, ensure the fuel cap fits, and review old advisories on the official MOT history service.

  7. 7

    Book any obvious safety fixes before the test date — do not wait for a fail certificate if brakes or tyres are already illegal.

What to check

  • Legal minimum tread is generally 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread around the full circumference.
  • A missing, insecure or unreadable number plate is an easy fail.
  • Windscreen damage in the driver’s swept area has strict size limits — chips “out of sight” can still fail if in zone A.
  • Warning lights for ABS, airbags, brakes or ESC are commonly inspected.

Pro tips

  • Lights, tyres and drivers’ view of the road are repeatedly among the top UK fail categories — start there.
  • Clean the number plates and lamp lenses; dirt and condensation hide faults from you (but not always from the tester).
  • If the car only does short trips, take a longer run before the MOT so the DPF / emissions system is up to temperature.
  • An MOT pass is not a service — still change oil, filters and brake fluid on schedule.

FAQs

When does a car need its first MOT in the UK?

Usually when it is three years old from the date of first registration, then every year. Check the GOV.UK date for your registration.

Can I drive with an expired MOT?

Only to a pre-booked MOT test (and limited related cases). Otherwise it is illegal and can affect insurance.

What is an MOT advisory?

Something the tester noted that is not a fail yet. Fix advisories early — worn pads or tyres often become next year’s fail.

Safety first

Do not attempt repairs to brakes, steering or emissions systems without the right tools and competence. An MOT pass is not a substitute for regular servicing.