MOT Checklist: How to Pass First Time
MOT · 5 min read
A surprising number of MOT failures are for tiny things you could have fixed at home in five minutes — a blown bulb, a worn wiper, an empty washer bottle. Here's a quick pre-MOT checklist that covers the most common avoidable fails.
Lights
Lighting faults are one of the biggest causes of MOT failure and one of the easiest to fix. Walk around the car (or get someone to help) and check every one.
- Headlights (main and dipped beam)
- Sidelights and tail lights
- Brake lights, including the high-level one
- Indicators front and rear, plus hazards
- Number plate light and fog lights
Tyres
The legal minimum tread is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, all the way around. Check for uneven wear too — wear on one edge often means alignment or suspension issues that can also fail. Don't forget to check tyre pressures.
Wipers and washers
Torn or smearing wiper blades fail the test, and so does an empty washer bottle — the tester needs the washers to work. Both are a couple of minutes and a few pounds to sort.
Screen, mirrors and plates
Chips or cracks in the driver's line of sight can fail (a small chip elsewhere is usually fine). Make sure your mirrors are intact and secure, your number plates are clean and legible, and your registration follows the correct font and spacing.
Under the bonnet and inside
Top up the screen wash, brake fluid and engine oil. Inside, check the horn works, the seatbelts latch and retract properly, and the handbrake holds on a slope. These simple items catch people out every year.
What you can't check at home
Brakes, suspension, emissions and the exhaust need proper equipment. That's where a pre-MOT inspection pays for itself — we check the car over before the test so you're not paying twice for a re-test, and if something does fail we can usually repair it and re-test the same day.
Frequently asked questions
How early can I get my MOT done?
Up to a month (minus a day) before your current certificate expires, while keeping the same renewal date. Booking early gives you time to fix any issues without going off the road.
What are the most common MOT failures?
Lighting, tyres, brakes, and driver's-view issues (wipers, washers, screen chips) top the list — and several of those you can check and fix yourself before the test.
Do you repair MOT failures the same day?
In most cases yes — many failures like bulbs, tyres, brakes and emissions are repaired and re-tested the same day. Call 07359 070 779.