Once a car is purchased new, it won’t need to go for a Ministry of Transport test, or MOT, for three years. This always feels great, but it can also actually lull you into a false sense of security and believe you me, those three years will fly by. 

In that time, your car will rack up miles and also accumulate general wear and tear. Even a vehicle that is not used that much will show signs of damage, if left completely untended to.

When they undergo their first MOT, a massive 40% of cars fail to pass and usually on completely preventable causes, if the owner had just taken a few moments to take a proper look at the state of their car. 

It’s also worth noting that the cars most likely to fail are MPV’s, oddly enough.

Anyway, here’s a checklist of things that are really easy for anyone to sort out (regardless of your technical expertise) ahead of your MOT that could end up saving you a few quid - as well as the inconvenience of needing a second go at passing.

Tyres 

The minimum required tread depth is 1.6mm across the entire expanse of the tyre. There can be no bald patches or uneven wear at the edges that affects this minimum, even if the rest of the tyre still possesses plenty of wear. Likewise, any bulges, cracking or holes in the tyre wall, from dryness or curb damage, will result in a failure. If it’s time to replace your tyres, take a look at our fantastic range of tyres for all car makes and models now.

It’s so easy to overlook, but tyre pressure is crucial to a car’s handling and performance. The air in a tyre really can get pretty low before it shows to the naked eye, so get down to a garage and put the gauge on them to be sure prior to the test, particularly if it’s actually over a month since you last did so. 

Lamps and Lights 

An oft-overlooked reason for failure; all it takes is a quick check around that all the lamps and lights are working, including all indicators and the brake lights. It’s amazing how many cars you see going down the road with only one headlamp or a dead brake light.

Mirrors

Rear view mirrors should be easily adjustable and in good condition. When you use a car regularly, it’s easy to get used to things that don’t quite work properly. Maybe your side mirror got knocked off and you never got around to replacing it – well, now’s the time to do it.

Windscreens 

To pass the MOT, your front and rear windscreens should be free from cracks. Small stone chips are allowable, as long as they don’t obscure the view.

Wipers

Ensure they are in good nick and don’t simply smear or fail to clear the windscreen properly. It’s such a simple fix and costs just a few quid, but will be an MOT fail if you don’t take the time to sort it.

Washers

Check that the jets are unblocked, correctly angled at the windscreen and that there’s a good supply of liquid in the washer reservoir. If needs be, they can be easily re-directed using a pin or needle inserted carefully into the jet hole then used as a lever.

Horn

Another little-considered component is the car horn, but this must also be in full working order, or your car will fail.

Exhaust

Exhausts really shouldn’t be an issue after just three years, but it’s always worth a quick squint under the car to make sure there isn’t anything obvious wrong. They can sometimes get squashed, lose a bracket, or snap a rubber sling if they’ve hit a road bump at the wrong angle.

It’s also not a bad idea to take your car through the car wash (or even splash out on a full valet) just before an MOT, to help with the presentation of a well-kept vehicle to the examiner. You may not know that it’s within the examiner’s rights for them to actually refuse to test a really filthy car, so it’s always good to start off on the right foot.

MOT’s can be booked a full month before the due date, so don’t leave it all ‘til the last minute. That month is not lost - your MOT will still run from the due date, and you won’t have to think about it again for over another year.