MOT Checklist 2026: 10 Things to Check Before You Book

Around 1 in 3 cars fail their MOT first time — and nearly half of those failures are for issues you can spot yourself in under ten minutes. Before you book your test, take a moment to go through this quick checklist. You might save yourself a fail certificate and a return trip.

1. Lights — front, rear and number plate

Faulty lights are the single biggest MOT failure reason. Walk around the car with the engine on and someone pressing the pedal — check sidelights, dipped and full beam, indicators, hazards, fogs, reverse, brake (including the high-level brake light) and number plate lights. A blown bulb is a £3 fix at home; a fail certificate is not.

2. Tyres — tread, sidewalls and pressure

Tread must be at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of every tyre, including the spare if you have one. Check for sidewall cracks, bulges and any visible cords. Use a 20p coin — if the outer band disappears into the tread, you're above the legal limit.

3. Windscreen and wipers

Any chip larger than 10mm in the driver's swept area is a fail (40mm elsewhere). Worn or smearing wipers will also fail. Top up the washer fluid — surprisingly, an empty bottle is also a fail.

4. Brakes

If there's any judder, squeal or pull to one side under braking, get it checked before the test. We'll happily inspect for free.

5. Seatbelts and seats

Pull every seatbelt out fully and tug sharply — it should lock. Check for fraying or damage. Front seats must be securely fixed.

6. Mirrors and view of the road

Both door mirrors and the rear-view must be intact. A cracked wing mirror counts as a fail if it affects the view.

7. Horn

Simple but often forgotten — give the horn a quick blast before leaving the driveway.

8. Number plates

Must match DVLA records and be readable. Faded or non-standard fonts will fail.

9. Warning lights on the dashboard

Engine warning light, airbag light, ABS light, ESC light and TPMS all need to extinguish after the engine has started. A glowing light = a fail.

10. Fluids — oil, coolant, washer fluid

All visible levels should be at the correct mark. While they don't directly fail the MOT, low fluid is often a sign of a bigger issue an MOT tester will look for.