MOTScout

MOT Pre-Test Checklist: Everything to Check Before Your MOT

MOT Pre-Test Checklist

Use this checklist in the days before your MOT. Most items take just a few minutes to check and could save you a retest fee.

Lights — Check Every Single One

Walk around the car with the ignition on and check:

  • Headlamps — dip beam and main beam both sides
  • Brake lights — press the pedal and use a wall reflection or ask someone to check
  • Front and rear indicators — both sides, including the side repeaters if fitted
  • Rear fog light — usually a red light activated separately
  • Reversing lights — engage reverse gear (engine off, ignition on)
  • Number plate lights — both lights, front and rear plates
  • Hazard lights — all four indicators flashing together

Replace any blown bulbs before the test. A bulb kit costs a few pounds.

Tyres

  • Tread depth — insert a 20p coin into the tread grooves. If the outer band of the coin is visible, the tyre is below the 1.6mm legal minimum.
  • Tread depth across the width — check across the full central three-quarters of the tyre, and around the full circumference.
  • Sidewalls — look for cuts, bulges, or cracking. Any bulge is a fail.
  • Tyre type — check all four tyres are the same type (summer/winter/all-season mixing across an axle can fail).
  • Spare tyre — not tested in the MOT, but worth checking anyway.

Windscreen

  • Zone A (a 290mm strip centred on the steering wheel): no chip larger than 10mm
  • The swept area (entire wiper sweep): no chip larger than 40mm
  • Cracks — any crack in the swept area will fail
  • Wiper blades — they must clear the screen without smearing. Lift the wiper arm and check the rubber for splits or hardening.
  • Washer jets — top up the washer fluid and check both jets spray onto the glass.

Brakes

  • Brake pedal — should feel firm, not spongy. Spongy brakes suggest air in the system.
  • Stopping straight — find a quiet road and brake firmly. The car should not pull to one side.
  • Handbrake — should hold on a hill. On a level surface, test it's fully engaged.
  • Brake fluid — check the reservoir under the bonnet. It should be between MIN and MAX.

Horn

  • Give it a short test — it should sound a continuous, uniform note.

Mirrors

  • Rearview mirror — secure, not cracked
  • Both door mirrors — secure and adjustable. Glass must not be cracked or missing.

Seat Belts

Pull each belt out to its full extent and check:

  • No fraying, cuts, or visible damage to the webbing
  • The buckle clicks in firmly and releases when pressed
  • Inertia reel belts retract smoothly

Dashboard Warning Lights

Turn the ignition to the accessory position (without starting the engine). Warning lights should illuminate briefly then go off. If any of these stay on, it's a fail:

  • Engine management light (amber light showing engine outline)
  • ABS warning light
  • Airbag / SRS warning light
  • Brake warning light (if it stays on after releasing the handbrake)
  • Power steering warning light

Exhaust

  • Listen for blowing sounds (a puffing noise from the exhaust pipe joints)
  • Look for visible smoke from the exhaust pipe on a warm engine — blue smoke (oil), black smoke (rich fuel mix), or white smoke on a warm day can all indicate problems.
  • Check the exhaust is securely mounted (grab and shake gently when cold).

Registration Plates

  • Both plates must be clean, undamaged, and readable
  • The characters must use the correct font and spacing — no custom fonts or tinted plates
  • Check the mounting — both plates must be securely fixed

Bodywork

  • Check for sharp edges that could injure pedestrians (torn metal around arches, etc.)
  • Look under the sills and along the floor for serious rust that could affect the vehicle's structure

Before You Go

  • Book morning if possible — if repairs are needed, the garage has more time to fix and retest.
  • Don't book on a day you urgently need the car — allow for the possibility of a failure and repair.
  • Take the V5C logbook — you may need it if there are questions about the vehicle.
  • Check your MOT expiry date — you can test up to one month early without losing days.