Pre-MOT checklist: 20 checks you can do in 15 minutes

A big share of MOT failures are for things you can spot yourself. Tick these off the week before the test. (Tap to tick – your progress is saved in this browser.)

Checked against the MOT inspection manual and GOV.UK guidance · Updated November 2026

Lights (get a helper or reverse up to a window)

• Dipped and main beam headlamps both work, same colour, no cracks or water inside
• Front and rear side lamps and number plate lamps work
• Indicators (front, rear and side repeaters) flash at a normal rate; hazard lights work
• Brake lights work, including the high-level third brake light
• Rear fog lamp works and its warning light comes on inside
• Reversing lamps work (cars first used from 1 September 2009)

Tyres and wheels

• Tread at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters, all the way round (a 20p coin's outer band should be hidden)
• No cuts, bulges, exposed cord or cracking on sidewalls
• Same size and type on each axle; spare isn't tested but must be secure if carried
• All wheel nuts present; TPMS warning light off

Visibility

• No chips or cracks over 10mm in the 290mm strip in front of the driver, or over 40mm elsewhere in the wiper sweep
• Wiper blades clear the screen without smearing; washers spray onto the screen
• Washer bottle topped up
• Mirrors secure and not cracked; nothing obstructing the driver's view (sat-nav mounts, air fresheners, stickers)

Inside the car

• No warning lights left on after start-up: engine management, airbag, ABS, ESC, brake fluid, power steering, TPMS
• Horn works and is a single continuous tone
• Every seatbelt pulls out, locks with a sharp tug, retracts and latches; no fraying
• Seats are secure and the driver's seat adjusts and locks
• Doors open from inside and outside; bonnet and boot shut securely

Final checks

• Number plates clean, legal font and spacing, not cracked; VIN visible
• Fuel filler cap seals; enough fuel and oil for the emissions test
• Diesel: take the car for a 20-minute motorway run before the test to help clear the DPF and warm the engine
• Car isn't too dirty or full of clutter – a tester can refuse to test a car that's too dirty or loaded