What’s Checked in a UK MOT? The Full Checklist

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An MOT takes about 45 minutes and runs through roughly 130 individual checks. The DVSA groups them into 12 areas. Here’s what each one means in plain English.

1. Body, chassis and general items

Excessive rust or damage that affects safety. Doors must open from inside and outside, bonnet and boot latches must work, and any cosmetic items shouldn’t have sharp edges sticking out.

2. Tow bar (if fitted)

Secure, correctly fitted, and not corroded enough to fail.

3. Fuel system

No leaks. Fuel cap must seal properly.

4. Exhaust emissions

Petrol cars are checked for CO and HC levels. Diesels are smoke-tested. If the engine management light (EML) is on, that’s an automatic fail — the tester won’t even run the emissions test.

5. Exhaust system

Securely mounted, no major leaks, complete (catalytic converter or DPF must still be fitted if originally there).

6. Seatbelts

Every belt in every seat is checked. Tester pulls each one sharply to confirm the inertia reel locks. Frayed webbing, slow retraction, or broken buckles all fail.

7. Seats

Driver’s seat must adjust securely. All seats must be securely fixed to the floor.

8. Doors

Must open and close properly, latch securely, and the driver’s door must open from outside.

9. Mirrors

Interior mirror plus at least one wing mirror are required (most cars need both). All mirrors must be intact, secure, and adjustable.

10. Brakes

Both pedal feel and the actual stopping force are checked on a rolling road brake tester. Handbrake is checked too. Differences between left and right wheels, or fluid leaks, will fail.

11. Tyres and wheels

Tread depth (minimum 1.6mm), tyre condition (no cuts, bulges, or cord showing), correct tyre size and speed rating, wheel security, and wheel bearings. A tread depth gauge costs a couple of pounds and tells you in seconds whether you’ll pass.

12. Registration plates

Both plates must be present, clean, undamaged, and in the standard Charles Wright font.

Lights, signals and electrics

Headlights (dipped and main beam), sidelights, brake lights, indicators, hazards, fog lights, number plate light, reversing light. Headlight aim is checked with a beam-setter. Battery security and visible wiring are also inspected.

Steering and suspension

Steering wheel for play and free movement, power-steering operation, ball joints, suspension arms, shock absorbers, springs, anti-roll bar bushes.

Driver’s view of the road

Windscreen damage (chips over 10mm in the driver’s view, or 40mm anywhere else, fail). Wipers and washers must work — smeary wiper blades are one of the cheapest fixes before a test. No obstructions like dashcams or air fresheners in the driver’s direct view.

What an MOT does NOT check

Pass, advisories and fails

• PASS — car is roadworthy. Certificate valid for 12 months.
• ADVISORY — issues noted but not bad enough to fail. Fix before next year.
• MINOR — small defect, still passes but should be fixed soon.
• MAJOR — fail. Must be fixed before the car can be driven (other than home or to a garage).
• DANGEROUS — fail. Car must not be driven at all until fixed.

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The pre-MOT checklist kit

Five cheap items that cover the most common avoidable failures — around £35 all-in, less than a single MOT re-test:

• Spare bulb kit (~£10) — blown bulbs are the #1 MOT failure
• Wiper blades (~£10) — smeary blades are a fail
• Tread depth gauge (~£3) — check all 4 tyres in seconds
• Screenwash 5L (~£5) — an empty washer bottle fails
• Tyre pressure gauge (~£8) — spot slow punctures early

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