Is your car due an MOT test? Instead of twiddling your thumbs like a nervous schoolchild before an exam, why not increase your chances of passing? Give yourself a bit of extra time before you set off, and prepare your car for the test. 

By carrying out these 7 simple checks, you could avoid failing your MOT on a simple fault. You could also uncover bigger issues that you can get fixed with the professionals before your car is tested. 

1.    Lights

Changing a bulb before your MOT will save you both time and money, as it could be the difference between a pass and a fail. Check the headlights, sidelights and rear lights, hazards, indicators and finally the brake lights, making sure that each is functioning as it should be.

2.    Windscreen

Examine your windscreen and address any chips and cracks. Damage larger than 10mm in the driver's line of vision, along with 40mm of damage anywhere else on the screen, will cause a fail. Sit in the driver’s seat and as you are examining the windscreen, test your wipers with the screenwash. Are the wipers in good working order? Is there enough liquid to clean the screen?

3.    Under the bonnet

If you don’t have enough screenwash, now would be a good time to take a look under the bonnet! After filling up your screenwash bottle, check your oil level to make sure you don’t need a top up or an oil change.

4.    Wheels

It’s easy to forget how much work your wheels and tyres have to do on a daily basis! By checking your wheels for damage and getting any work done prior to your MOT, you could save money on a re-test. Tyre condition is one of the biggest causes of MOT test failure, so make sure your tyres all meet the minimum tread depth of 1.6mm. 

5.    Horn

The simplest of all our checks – blast the horn to check its working!

6.    Number plate

Does your number plate comply with legal requirements for font and letter spacing? It's good to check. Secondly, make sure the plate is easy to read by checking the lights and wiping dirt away with a damp cloth. 

7.    Seats

One final check as you get in the car to drive to your MOT test is the seats. Before you get the hoover out, don’t worry, the mechanic is not going to fail your MOT for crumbs on the upholstery! What they will be looking for is how safe your seats and seatbelts are. Check that the driver’s seat can be adjusted forwards and backwards as normal, and give all your seatbelts a sharp tug, to make sure that they will work properly when breaking sharply on the road.

Now that you have carried out your checklist, all that’s left for us to say is good luck in your MOT, and if you need any help or advice please feel free to get in touch with us!