MOT Checklist Before Your Test
Pass your MOT first time
Simple checks any driver can do before arriving at Woodseer Autos. Built from the same things our DVSA-authorised testers flag most often — and the things drivers fix in five minutes for almost no money.
Woodseer Autos — MOT Pre-Test Checklist
Woodseer Autos · 16 Pixley Street, E14 7DF · 020 7537 2447 · woodseerautos.co.uk
Need help before your MOT? Call 020 7537 2447
Quick pre-MOT checklist
- All headlights, sidelights, indicators and brake lights working
- Number plate lights illuminate
- Tyres above 1.6mm tread (use the 20p test)
- No bulges, cuts or visible cord on any tyre sidewall
- Windscreen free of cracks larger than 10mm in the driver's view
- Wipers don't streak; washer fluid topped up to MAX
- Horn works and is clearly audible
- All mirrors present and intact
- Both number plates secure, legal font and unfaded
- Driver and passenger seatbelts retract and lock cleanly
- No dashboard warning lights illuminated when running
- At least 1/4 tank of fuel for emissions test
- Boot empty enough to inspect floor and spare-wheel well
10-minute driveway MOT preparation
1. Walk round the car
Look for kerb damage on the wheels, scuffed bumpers, cracked light units and any tyre sidewall lumps. Two minutes here saves a £200 fail.
2. Lights and indicators
Sit a friend in the driver's seat or use a wall reflection. Cycle through dipped, main beam, hazards, indicators, brake, reverse and fogs. Replace blown bulbs — they're under a fiver.
3. Tyres and tread
Slot a 20p coin into each main groove. If you can see the outer band, that tyre is at the legal limit. Check pressures cold against the door-shut sticker.
4. Wipers and washers
Run the wipers across a wet screen. Streaks, judder or torn rubber means new blades. Top washer fluid to MAX — empty bottle is an automatic fail.
5. Inside the cabin
Test horn, seatbelts (sharp tug to confirm lock), all mirrors, and check no warning lights stay on after the engine starts.
6. Under the bonnet
Engine oil between MIN and MAX, coolant in the expansion tank to the cold line, brake fluid above MIN. No fresh leaks on the ground where the car sits overnight.
Common reasons cars fail MOTs
- Tyres below legal tread or sidewall damage
- Failed bulbs (headlight, brake, number plate)
- Ineffective wipers or empty washer bottle
- Windscreen chip larger than 10mm in driver's view
- Brake imbalance or worn pads/discs
- Suspension play — top mounts, ball joints, anti-roll links
- Emissions over limit (commonly EGR or DPF on diesels)
- Dashboard warning lights (engine, ABS, airbag, brake)
- Number plate fading, incorrect font or insecure fixing
- Excessive steering play or worn track-rod ends
Tell-tale signs to fix before the test
- Squeaking or grinding brakes
- Car pulling to one side when braking or steering
- Uneven tyre wear (inner or outer edge worn)
- Knocking or clonking over speed bumps
- Blue, white or black smoke from the exhaust
- Engine management light on (solid or flashing)
- ABS or airbag warning light on
- Weak handbrake (won't hold on a slope)
- Excessive steering wheel vibration at 50–70mph
- Fluid leaks under the car after standing overnight
What to bring or prepare
- Vehicle registration
- Any known issue (note it on your phone)
- Service history if available
- Locking wheel-nut key
- At least 1/4 tank of fuel
- Best contact phone number
If your vehicle fails — here's what happens
We explain exactly what failed and why, in plain English. You'll get a written quote before any repair starts, with fair pricing and reputable parts. Same-day repairs are common; the partial re-test is free if we carry the work out within the DVSA's 10-working-day window. No scare tactics — and we'll tell you when something genuinely isn't worth fixing on an older car.
MOT preparation FAQs
Quick answers to common questions.