How to help your car pass its next MOT

Uh-oh… it’s MOT time. At some stage in our motoring lives, we’ve all experienced that dreaded call from the MOT centre. “Sorry, it isn’t good news.” What follows is a sick-making list of every fault on your car that is deemed significant enough to make it unroadworthy. Countless, unavoidable repairs follow and the credit card takes a large, unexpected hit. However, MOTs don’t have to be quite as perilous as this. If truth be told, there aren’t too many things that should come as a surprise. Sure - unless you’re a qualified MOT tester, you’ll be unable to spot every possible point of failure, but some things are more obvious. Consider this post a back-to-basics affair, for what follows is a list of the most important things you can check as the car owner, no matter your mechanical skill level. In fact, you don’t need an ounce of mechanical knowledge - just a good eye and willingness to take a look around your beloved motor before it goes to the dreaded MOT centre. So, without further ado, here’s the definitive list of ten things you should take a good look at come MOT time.

1. Fuel and engine oil

It’s easy to look past the fact that the levels of fuel and engine oil in your car can impact its ability to pass the MOT, not least because of the requirement to have sufficient levels of both for the emissions test. Make sure you have plenty of fuel and the right level of engine oil (not just now, but always!).

2. Horn

Give your horn a short blast. It’s a legal requirement for it to emit the sound you only ever hear when someone has cut you up on the motorway.

3. Screenwash

Come on, admit it - the screenwash ran out ages ago, didn’t it? Top it up!

4. Wipers

Your windscreen wipers should be non-perished, fully intact and capable of clearing moisture and muck from both the front and rear windows. Give them a test and if you’re at all unsure, get them replaced (a task you should be able to undertake yourself unless the manufacturer deems otherwise).

5. Windscreen

Check that massive pane of glass for any damage. Any nick, crack or chip that is larger than 40mm will fail, and if there’s damage that is 10mm in length within the driver’s field of view, that’ll result in a fail, too.

6. Seatbelts and seats

Both your seat and seatbelt could save your life in a crash, so this is always a good periodic check. Have a play with the driver seat and ensure it is fully engaged and rock solid on the tracks. Make sure it moves freely when you adjust it and ensure the seatbelt works as intended.

7. Tyres

A common point of failure during MOTs, the tyres on your car need serious inspection before booking it in. The minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm, but make sure there are no flat spots or smooth areas on the inside of the tyre; it doesn’t matter how well-tread the rest of it is - that’ll still result in an MOT failure.

8. Number plate

You wouldn’t think to check this before an MOT, would you? You should, though - make sure it’s clean, undamaged and that every single letter and number is eligible from a distance.

9. Brake lights

An easy one, this, although you’ll require a helping pair of hands. Make sure every brake light your car has works when you press that pedal.

10. Indicators and headlights

Another one where a friend or spouse will come in handy. Double check that all indicators illuminate, along with headlights (both side and full beam). That’s it! Didn’t take long, either, did it? The above doesn’t go as deep as an MOT tester will, but if you find that every one of the ten points above check out fine, you’ll at least drive into the test centre with a good level of confidence. The best of luck! Image credit