An MOT checks important parts of your car to make sure they meet the required road safety and environmental standards. Although you can’t guarantee a pass by checking the car yourself, there are several straightforward things you can inspect before test day.
Looking at your tyres, lights, windscreen, wipers, seatbelts and dashboard warning lights beforehand can help you spot obvious problems that may otherwise be picked up during the MOT.
An MOT isn’t the same as a service and doesn’t assess your car’s overall mechanical condition, so regular maintenance remains important throughout the year.
For more practical advice on looking after your vehicle, visit our car maintenance guidance.
1. Check Your Tyres
Tyres are an important part of the MOT because their condition directly affects the safety of your car.
Before your MOT, check:
- Tread depth – for most cars, the legal minimum is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, around its entire circumference.
- Tyre condition – look for cuts, bulges or other visible damage and check for excessive or uneven wear.
- Tyre pressure – make sure your tyres are inflated to the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
Don’t just check the tyres you can see easily. If your car has a spare wheel that is currently fitted to the vehicle, it must also meet the relevant requirements.
If you’re unsure about the condition of a tyre, have it checked professionally before the MOT rather than waiting for the test to identify the problem.
2. Check Your Windscreen, Wipers and Washers
Your windscreen, wipers and washers all contribute to giving you a clear view of the road and are checked as part of the MOT.
Before the test, check:
- Windscreen – look for chips, cracks or other damage, particularly in the area swept by the wipers and in front of the driver.
- Wiper blades – make sure they aren’t badly worn or damaged and that they clear the windscreen effectively.
- Windscreen washers – check that they operate correctly and that there is enough screenwash in the reservoir.
Windscreen damage doesn’t automatically mean your car will fail its MOT. Whether it causes a problem depends on factors including its size and position, particularly if it affects the driver’s view of the road.
If you notice significant damage or your wipers aren’t clearing the screen properly, it’s sensible to have the problem dealt with before the test.
3. Test Your Seatbelts and Seats
Seatbelts and seats are checked during the MOT, so it’s worth making sure there are no obvious problems before the test.
Check that:
- Seatbelts fasten securely and release correctly.
- Belts aren’t badly damaged, cut or frayed.
- Seatbelts retract properly when released.
- Seats are securely fitted and don’t move unexpectedly.
- The driver’s seat can be adjusted where adjustment is provided and remains securely in position.
If a seatbelt is damaged or isn’t operating correctly, don’t wait for the MOT to identify it. As an important safety feature, it should be repaired as soon as possible.
4. Look for Dashboard Warning Lights
Some dashboard warning lights are checked during the MOT, so don’t ignore a warning that remains illuminated after starting the car.
When you switch the ignition on, it’s normal for various warning lights to illuminate briefly as the vehicle carries out its checks. After the engine starts, most should go out if the relevant systems are operating correctly.
Pay particular attention to warning lights relating to systems such as:
- Airbags and supplementary restraint systems
- Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
- Electronic stability control (ESC)
- Electronic power steering
- Braking systems
Depending on the vehicle, other warning lamps may also form part of the MOT inspection.
If a warning light remains illuminated, don’t simply try to clear it immediately before the test. Have the underlying fault investigated and repaired where necessary.
5. Test Your Lights and Horn
Your car’s lights and horn are straightforward things to check before an MOT, and problems can sometimes be as simple as a failed bulb.
Before the test, check that your:
- Headlights work correctly, including dipped and main beam.
- Brake lights illuminate when the brake pedal is pressed.
- Indicators and hazard warning lights operate correctly.
- Rear lights and number plate lights are working.
- Horn works properly and produces a clear, continuous sound.
It’s easier to check some lights with another person who can stand outside the vehicle while you operate them. Alternatively, you may be able to use a reflection from a wall, garage door or window to help check them yourself.
If you find a light isn’t working, investigate the cause before the MOT rather than assuming it’s only a bulb.
6. Don’t Ignore MOT Advisories
If your car has had an MOT before, check the previous test result for any advisories that may still need attention.
An advisory doesn’t mean the vehicle failed its previous MOT. It identifies an issue that wasn’t serious enough to cause a failure at the time but may need monitoring or repairing.
By the time your next MOT comes around, an issue mentioned previously may have deteriorated. Checking old advisories before the test gives you an opportunity to investigate them rather than discovering that the problem has become more serious on test day.
You can learn more about what they mean and what to do about them in our guide to MOT advisories.
7. Take Your Car for a Drive Before the MOT
Before your MOT, pay attention to how the car feels and sounds when you drive it normally. This can sometimes highlight problems that aren’t obvious while the vehicle is parked.
Look out for:
- Unusual noises when braking, steering or driving over uneven roads.
- Changes in braking, such as pulling to one side or unusual vibration.
- Steering problems, including excessive play, vibration or difficulty steering.
- Unusual exhaust noise or visible smoke that wasn’t present before.
- Warning lights that appear while you’re driving.
A short drive isn’t a substitute for a professional inspection, and you shouldn’t drive a vehicle you believe may be unsafe. But being familiar with how your car normally behaves can help you notice changes worth investigating before its MOT.
If you identify a problem, have it checked rather than simply hoping the car will pass the test.
What Happens if Your Car Fails Its MOT?
If your car fails its MOT, you’ll receive a refusal of an MOT test certificate showing the problems identified during the test. Defects can be classified as dangerous, major or minor, while some issues may be recorded as advisories.
A dangerous or major defect results in an MOT failure. Minor defects don’t cause the vehicle to fail on their own, although they should still be repaired as soon as possible.
Whether you can drive the car after a failed MOT depends on the circumstances. If your existing MOT certificate is still valid and no dangerous defects have been identified, you may be able to drive the vehicle until that certificate expires, provided the car remains roadworthy.
You must not drive a vehicle with a dangerous defect until it has been repaired. Driving an unroadworthy vehicle can also be an offence regardless of whether an MOT certificate is still valid.
Once the necessary repairs have been completed, the vehicle may need a partial retest before a new MOT certificate can be issued.
Get Your Car Ready for Its MOT
Preparing for an MOT doesn’t need to be complicated. Checking the obvious things beforehand — including your tyres, lights, windscreen, wipers, seatbelts and dashboard warning lights — can help you identify problems before test day.
These checks don’t replace regular maintenance, servicing or the MOT itself. They’re simply a useful way of keeping an eye on your car and dealing with obvious faults before they become bigger problems.
It’s also worth understanding which vehicle maintenance checks are legal requirements in the UK, so you know the difference between routine maintenance, your responsibilities for keeping a vehicle roadworthy and the MOT itself.
Keeping MOT certificates, service records and maintenance invoices together can also provide a useful record of how your vehicle has been looked after. Find out more in our Service History & Vehicle Records guidance.
And if maintaining your current car is becoming increasingly expensive, you can value your car with Jamjar and see what it could be worth.