How to pass your MOT: a 5-minute check
15 July 2026
Around one in three cars fails its MOT first time, and a big share of those failures are for small things you could have spotted from your own driveway: a blown bulb, a torn wiper, an empty washer bottle. A five-minute walk-around before you drive in can save you a failed test, a retest fee, and the hassle of rebooking.
Run through the checklist below the day before your test. Nothing here needs tools or a garage, just a few minutes and, for the lights, a second pair of hands.
Lights and signals
- Switch on your headlights and walk around the car, checking dipped and full beam, sidelights, rear lights, fog lights and hazards all work.
- Test both indicators, front and rear, and check they flash at a steady rate.
- Get someone to press the brake pedal while you check both brake lights and the high-level light. No helper? Reverse close to a garage door or window and watch the reflection.
- Check the number plate lights at the back are lit.
- Make sure lenses aren't cracked, cloudy or hanging loose.
Windscreen, wipers and washers
- Look for chips or cracks in the windscreen. Damage bigger than 10mm in the driver's line of sight (or 40mm anywhere else on the swept area) is an automatic fail.
- Run the wipers. The rubber should be intact and leave a clean, smear-free sweep. Torn or perished blades fail.
- Top up the screenwash. An empty washer bottle is a straightforward fail, so fill it before you go.
- Check all mirrors are secure and not cracked.
Tyres and wheels
- Check tread depth across each tyre. The legal minimum is 1.6mm. A 20p coin's outer band is a quick guide; if you can see the band, the tread may be too low.
- Look for cuts, bulges or cracks in the sidewalls and uneven wear across the tread.
- Make sure all tyres are inflated to the correct pressure (it's on a sticker in the door shut or filler flap).
Inside the car
- Tug sharply on every seatbelt (it should lock) and run your hand along the webbing to check for fraying or cuts. Confirm each one clicks in and releases.
- Check the driver's seat adjusts and locks in position.
- Give the horn a quick press to make sure it sounds.
- Top up the engine oil and fuel; the tester needs enough of both to run the emissions check.
- Turn the ignition and check no warning lights (airbag, ABS, engine management) stay on. A lit warning light can fail the test.
Number plates and body
- Give the number plates a wipe so they're clean and legible, with the correct font and spacing and no covers.
- Check the doors, bonnet and boot open and close and latch securely.
- Make sure the windscreen washers and wipers clear the glass and the exhaust isn't blowing or hanging loose.
Do the checks, then check the history
These five minutes cover the faults that catch most people out. It's also worth knowing what your car has been flagged for before. Enter your number plate in the MOT Check app to see the full test history and any advisories from previous years. Those are the tester's early warnings, and they're often exactly what turns into a fail next time.
Buying rather than testing? A full vehicle check shows the MOT record alongside mileage, outstanding finance and write-off markers before you commit.