MOT checklist: 10 checks to do before your test

By the Pear Tree Garage team · Updated October 2026

When is my MOT due?

A car needs its first MOT on the third anniversary of its registration, and one every year after that. You can check the date, and see past results and advisories, for free on GOV.UK: search for check MOT history and enter your registration.

You can have the test done up to a month, minus a day, before it runs out and keep the same renewal date. Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.

The ten checks

1. Lights. Check every bulb: headlights on dipped and main beam, sidelights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, reversing lights and the number plate lights. Ask someone to stand behind while you press the brake.
2. Tyres. The legal minimum tread is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, all the way round. Look for cuts, bulges and uneven wear too.
3. Wipers and washers. Blades should clear the screen without smearing or juddering. Top up the washer bottle: an empty one is a fail.
4. Windscreen. A chip or crack bigger than 10mm in the area in front of the driver, or bigger than 40mm anywhere else the wipers sweep, will fail.
5. Horn. Give it a quick press. It has to work and be loud enough to be heard.
6. Mirrors. They need to be secure and the glass intact.
7. Seat belts. Pull each one out fully and check for cuts and fraying. Each should click in, release, and retract on its own.
8. Number plates. Clean, easy to read, and not cracked or faded.
9. Warning lights. If an engine, ABS, airbag or brake warning light stays on after you start the car, it's likely to fail. Get it looked at first.
10. Fuel and oil. Make sure there's enough of both. The tester needs to run the engine for the emissions test and can refuse to test a car that's too low.

Before you set off

Clear out the boot and the footwells, and make sure every door opens from inside and outside. A clean, empty car makes the test quicker.

If you find a problem

Bulbs, wiper blades and washer fluid are quick, cheap fixes. For tyres, brakes, warning lights or anything you're not sure about, book it in a couple of weeks before the MOT is due. That leaves time to put things right without being left without a car.