Preparing For Your MOT
Between 2024 and 2025, the failure rate for MOTs was nearly 28%, with over 7 million vehicles needing a retest.
A vehicle can fail its MOT for a number of reasons, only needing a major defect in one area to warrant a total failure.
Improve your car’s chances of passing with simple pre-MOT checks and good preparation.
Pre-MOT checks you can do yourself
It’s a good idea to prepare a checklist a few weeks before your MOT, to make sure that your car is in the best possible condition by the time it is inspected. Many of the most common reasons for MOT testing failure are areas that can easily be checked at home.
Assessing these areas in advance gives you time to fix any issues, and increases the chances of passing your MOT. A pre-MOT checklist should cover the following areas:
Lights
- Your lights should all be clean, compliant, and in good working order.
- This includes your headlights, sidelights, indicators, brake lights, and number plate light.
- You may need to get a friend or family member to assist you when checking the brake lights, or back your car up to a wall and check them via reflections.
- Things such as unsecured light mounts can also be a cause for MOT failure. So, be sure to check whether there are any wobbly lights on your car.
Tyres
- ?Research shows that 10% of MOT failures are because of issues with tyres.
- Your tyres should be properly inflated and have at least 1.6mm of tread around the whole tyre.
- Use our handy 20p test to check tread depth.
- Visually inspect your tyres for bulges, cuts, or damage.
- Alternatively, book our free tyre check for total peace of mind.
Exhaust checks
- Listen out for any excessive noise or rattling when your vehicle is running. This may suggest a problem with the exhaust system, which could result in a failed MOT.
- Check whether there’s smoke coming from the exhaust. This is normal on startup for diesel engines, but excessive smoke may indicate a problem.
- Check if there’s fuel or oil leaking from the exhaust. If so, there’s likely a problem further up the line (possibly with the spark plugs or glow plugs not warming/burning fuel properly).
Windscreen and wiper checks
- Any chip or crack in your windscreen that is larger than 40mm (or smaller than 10mm on the driver’s side) will result in a failed MOT.
- Check that your wipers and washers are in a suitable condition to give you a clear view of the road ahead. If your wipers are splitting, or your washer feed is blocked, this will require attention prior to your MOT.
- You can fail your MOT for having no screenwash, so make sure that the liquid is topped up.
Fuel and engine oil checks
- It is important for your car to have adequate fuel and oil levels to carry out the required emissions tests.
- Ensure you have at least ¼ of a tank of fuel.
- Check your engine oil levels are within the correct range.
Brake checks
- Make sure your braking system is in good working condition.
- If the car pulls to one side when you apply the brakes, this suggests a problem that requires further attention before your MOT.
- Ensure you have enough brake fluid.
- If you have alloy wheels, check for excessive wear on your brake pads or pitted brake discs.
- Test that your handbrake is strong enough to hold your car stationary (while on an incline).
- Alternatively, book a free brake check at Kwik Fit.
Mirror checks
- Your mirrors must be intact, secure, and free of cracks.
- You can fail an MOT for cracked or smashed mirrors, so make sure any damaged mirrors are replaced before your test.
- You can often find replacement mirrors for your car make and model online, but be careful with the ‘self-adhesive’ types – they’re likely to fall off again in no time.
- If you’re unsure about replacing a mirror, call your local Kwik Fit centre for help.
Interior checks
- Check all your seatbelts work. If you pull sharply on each seatbelt, it should react by locking.
- Check that your horn is working well.
- Make sure your car is clean and free from excessive debris.
- Finally, the warning lights on your dashboard will be included in your test, so it is crucial to make sure that they all light up when you start the car - and that they go out before you start driving.
The importance of car servicing
To keep your car in the best condition year-round, have it regularly serviced at your local Kwik Fit centre.
From a bi-annual Interim Service to a specialist EV Service, our expert checks are thorough and will spot any issues that could be flagged in an MOT.
The latest MOT changes
Being prepared for your upcoming MOT also involves keeping up to date with the latest changes to rules and regulations, to avoid getting caught out. Here’s a rundown of the key changes to MOTs from the last few years.
In May 2018, the DVLA introduced a whole list of changes:
- Tougher emissions standards for diesel vehicles. Vehicles fitted with a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) are now checked for visible smoke. If smoke is seen, it’s classed as a major fault and an automatic fail.
- The MOT certificate was redesigned to make it easier for motorists to understand the results.
- MOT faults and defects were recategorised as the ‘Minor’, ‘Major’, or ‘Dangerous’ faults we know today.
- New checks were introduced, including:
- Ensuring that brake fluid isn’t contaminated
- Checking for fluid leaks that might be an environmental risk
- Inspecting reversing lights and whether they are functioning correctly
- Inspecting brake pad warning lights and whether they are functioning correctly
- Checking the presence of brake pads or discs
- Ensuring that headlight washers are working on vehicles which have them fitted
- Inspecting daytime running lights
- Identifying underinflated tyres.
From June 2025, testers will need to “lift folded seats to inspect seat belts” for any cuts or damage, as well as look at regular upright seats.
More recently, the DVLA has been trialling a new process to combat “Ghost MOTs”. Under this system, testers must take a photo of the vehicle and submit it to the GOV.UK website, to try and eliminate fraudulent MOTs.
Book your MOT today
At Kwik Fit, we’re experts when it comes to MOT testing, with more than 600 MOT test centres located throughout the UK - and many staying open 7 days a week.
Simply enter your vehicle registration and click ‘search’ to view and book online.
Kwik Fit also provides a free MOT reminder service, so you don't have to worry about missing your due date!
