Use this guide in the week before your MOT test. You will need a helper or a reflective surface for checking lights, a tyre tread gauge or a coin, and access to screenwash and your car handbook.
Step by step
Check the due date and book
Use the MOT history service on GOV.UK to confirm when the test is due and see any advisories from last time. Book at an approved MOT test centre, which shows the blue sign with three white triangles. You can test up to a month (minus a day) early and keep the same renewal date.
Check all lights
Switch on side lights, headlights, full beam, indicators, hazard lights, fog lights and reversing lights, and have someone press the brake pedal. Walk round the car or use a helper to check each one works and the lenses are not cracked. Replace simple bulbs using the car handbook.
Check tyres and wheels
Check the tread depth across the central part of each tyre and look for cuts, bulges or exposed cord. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 millimetres across the central three-quarters of the tread, all the way round. Set the pressures to the figures in the handbook or on the door pillar sticker.
Check visibility
Look for chips or cracks in the windscreen, especially in the driver's line of sight. Make sure wipers clear the screen properly without smearing and the washers spray. Top up screenwash and check mirrors are secure and intact.
Check the basics inside the car
Make sure the horn works, seat belts latch and retract, and seats are secure. Check the dashboard for warning lights when the engine is running, as some lights can cause a fail. Remove clutter from the boot and cabin so the tester can access everything.
Check fluids and plates
Check oil and brake fluid levels using the handbook, and top up screenwash. Make sure number plates are clean, readable and securely fixed. Give the car a quick clean so the tester can see what they need to.
Ready-to-use checklist
- MOT due date checked and test booked
- All exterior lights working
- Tyre tread and condition checked
- Tyre pressures set
- Windscreen, wipers and washers checked
- Horn and seat belts working
- No dashboard warning lights
- Number plates clean and secure
Practical tips
- Look at last year's advisories on the MOT history service, as these are the items most likely to fail this time.
- Keep a spare set of common bulbs in the car if your model allows easy changes.
- If you get a fail for a dangerous defect, do not drive the car away until it is repaired.
Common problems
A warning light is on the dashboard.
Check the handbook to find out what it means. Some lights, such as engine management, airbag or brake warnings, can cause a fail, so have a garage diagnose it before the test.
The car failed on a minor item.
Ask the test centre about a partial retest, which may be free or cheaper if the repair is done within the allowed time. Check the current retest rules on GOV.UK.
The MOT has expired.
You must not drive the car on the road except to a pre-booked MOT test or to a garage for repairs required to pass. Book a test as soon as possible, and remember your insurance may not be valid without a current MOT.