MOT checklist: what is checked and how to prepare
Everything the tester looks at, plus a 10-minute driveway checklist that catches the most common easy fails before they cost you a certificate.
What is checked in an MOT
The MOT is a standardised annual inspection of the safety and environmental items on your vehicle, carried out to DVSA rules at an approved test centre. For a car, the tester works through:
- Lights and electrical equipment: headlights, sidelights, indicators, brake lights, fog lights, reflectors, headlight aim and the horn.
- Tyres and wheels: tread depth (the legal minimum is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tyre), condition, size and type, and the state of the wheels.
- Brakes: performance on a roller brake tester, condition of visible pipes, discs and pads, and the handbrake.
- Steering and suspension: wear and damage in joints, bushes, springs and shock absorbers, plus the steering wheel and column.
- Seatbelts and seats: every belt is checked for security, condition and operation; the driver's seat must adjust and lock.
- Visibility: windscreen damage in the driver's line of sight, wipers, washers and screenwash, and anything obstructing the view, such as a dashcam mounted badly or dangling air fresheners.
- Mirrors and doors: required mirrors present and secure; doors open and close properly, and the driver's door opens from inside and out.
- Body, structure and fuel system: excessive corrosion in structural areas, sharp edges, fuel leaks and a fuel cap that seals.
- Exhaust and emissions: the exhaust system's security and leaks, plus an emissions test appropriate to the engine.
- Registration plates and VIN: plates must be present, secure, legible and correctly spaced, and the vehicle identification number must be readable.
- Warning lights: the dashboard warning lamps for items such as airbags, ABS and electronic power steering must not show a fault.
What the MOT does not check
The MOT does not cover the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox. A car can pass its MOT with a slipping clutch, a rattling engine and a service light on. That is why a pass is not a clean bill of mechanical health, and why an MOT is not a substitute for servicing. If your car needs mechanical work, use the garage directory to find a local workshop rather than assuming the MOT would have flagged it.
The 10-minute pre-MOT checklist
DVSA defect data is remarkably consistent year to year: lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment account for around a quarter of all initial-test defects, with suspension, brakes and tyres behind them. Plenty of that is preventable on your driveway. Work through this the week before your test:
- Lights (2 minutes): turn everything on and walk around the car, or ask someone to press the brake pedal while you watch. Check headlights on both beams, sidelights, indicators, hazards, brake lights, reversing light, fog light and the number plate bulbs. Bulbs cost a few pounds.
- Tyres (2 minutes): use a 20p coin in the main grooves; if the coin's outer band is visible, the tread is close to or below the limit. Check all four tyres plus for cuts, bulges and cracking, and make sure they are inflated properly.
- Wipers and washers (1 minute): wipers must clear the screen without smearing or juddering, and the washers must actually spray. Top up the screenwash; an empty washer bottle is a genuine, avoidable fail.
- Windscreen (1 minute): look for chips or cracks in front of the driver. Damage larger than 10mm in the swept area directly in the driver's view, or 40mm elsewhere in the swept area, is a problem.
- Horn (10 seconds): one good beep.
- Seatbelts (1 minute): pull each belt sharply to check it locks, and inspect for cuts and fraying. Check every buckle clicks in and releases.
- Dashboard (30 seconds): turn the ignition on and check no warning lights stay lit, particularly airbag, ABS and engine management. A warning lamp that stays on is a common failure.
- Number plates (30 seconds): clean, secure, not cracked, standard font and spacing.
- Mirrors and doors (1 minute): mirrors secure and adjustable; all doors open and shut from the outside, driver's door from the inside too.
- General (1 minute): clear out an overloaded boot and cabin so the tester can access what they need. A tester can refuse to test a car that is too dirty or too full to inspect.
Common quick fails you can fix at home
| Fail point | Typical fix | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| Blown bulb | Replace the bulb | A few pounds |
| Empty screenwash | Top up the bottle | Under £5 |
| Split wiper blades | New blades | £5 to £20 |
| Worn tyre | Replace the tyre | From around £50 |
| Illegible number plate | Clean or replace the plate | Free to about £20 |
| Boot or cabin too full to test | Empty it before you arrive | Free |
None of these require tools or mechanical knowledge, and together they cover a meaningful share of real-world MOT failures.
Booking the test at the right time
You can have an MOT done up to a month (minus a day) before the current certificate runs out and keep the same renewal date. That buffer matters: if the car fails on something that needs parts, you still have a valid MOT while it is fixed, provided no dangerous defect was recorded.
First step: check your MOT expiry date free so you know exactly how much runway you have. Then find a convenient test centre from the list of UK MOT test centres by town and book the slot before the deadline pressure builds.
Frequently asked questions
What is checked in an MOT?
The MOT checks the safety and environmental items on your vehicle: lights, tyres and wheels, brakes, steering and suspension, seatbelts, windscreen, wipers and washers, mirrors, horn, body and structure, exhaust and emissions, fuel system, doors, registration plates and the vehicle identification number.
What is not checked in an MOT?
The MOT does not cover the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox. It is a safety and emissions inspection, not a mechanical health check, which is why an MOT pass is not the same as a service.
What are the most common MOT fails I can prevent at home?
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment are the single biggest defect category in DVSA figures, and many of those are simple blown bulbs. Worn or damaged tyres, empty screenwash, split wiper blades, warning lights left on and obscured number plates are all common, cheap-to-fix failure points you can check yourself.
Should I clean my car before an MOT?
Yes, within reason. A tester can refuse to test a vehicle that is too dirty to inspect or a boot too full to access. Clear the cabin and boot, make sure number plates are readable and give the lights and windscreen a wipe.