Before your MOT: the checks you can do yourself

Before your car's MOT: the most common reasons cars fail, which of them you can check yourself, and when and how to book the test.

Why cars fail their MOT

From April 2025 to March 2026, over a quarter of MOT tests on cars and light vans (27.51%) were failed, as the vehicles were brought in for the test.1

Area (DVSA's name)Tests that failed on itYour check
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment10.44%1Check 1
Suspension8.90%1Check 2
Tyres6.23%1Check 3
Brakes6.10%1Check 4
Visibility4.28%1Check 5

One test can fail in several areas, so the figures overlap.1

There's a check for each of the five

Each of the five most common reasons for failing has a check you can do yourself before the test. If one shows a problem, such as worn shock absorbers, get it fixed before the test.

Checks you can do yourself

This advice is from GOV.UK and the Highway Code, which GOV.UK shows as last updated on 22 October 2025.2

Your lights

  • Lights, indicators, reflectors and number plates must be kept clean and clear.2
  • Every time you drive, check all lights work.3

Your suspension

  • If your car keeps bouncing after you push down on the front or rear, its shock absorbers are worn and should be replaced.2

Your tyres

  • Your tyres must have at least 1.6mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tread's width, all the way round.2 They must also be free of cuts and defects.3
  • They must be inflated to the manufacturer's pressure for the load you're carrying: see your car's handbook or data.2
  • Check the pressures weekly, before a journey, when the tyres are cold.2

From April 2025 to March 2026, 60.60% of the dangerous defects found at MOTs were in tyres.1

Your brakes

  • Every time you drive, check the brakes work.3
  • Check your car's fluid levels at least weekly: low brake fluid may result in brake failure and a crash.2

Your view of the road

  • Every time you drive, check the windscreen, windows and mirrors are clean.3
  • Windscreens and windows must be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision.2
  • Take special care that the wipers and washers are working.2
  • Check the windscreen and rear window washer bottles as often as your handbook says, and top them up with windscreen washer fluid if necessary.3

From your handbook

  • Your car's handbook tells you how often to check the engine oil, the water level in the radiator or expansion tank, the brake fluid level and the battery.3
  • Your handbook also tells you when your car needs a service.3

The MOT doesn't cover the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox.4 A car can be unsafe even if it has a current MOT certificate.3

When

When can I take my car for its MOT?

You must get an MOT by the third anniversary of your car's registration, and after that by the anniversary of its last MOT.5 Some vehicles need to be tested at one year old: GOV.UK's MOT fees table says which.5

An MOT lasts for a year. The date it runs out is in your MOT history, or printed on your current MOT certificate if you have one.5

Roadworthy checks tax, MOT and MOT history from scanning or entering a number plate.

Check a car with Roadworthy

Free, for Android.

You can get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date: if it runs out on 15 May, the earliest is 16 April.5

If you get it earlier, next year's renewal date changes to one year (minus a day) from the date it passed.5

You can sign up to get reminders that your MOT is due.5

How do I book an MOT?

You must use an approved MOT test centre: only centres showing the blue sign with 3 white triangles can carry out your MOT. Contact one to book.6

Some MOT centres will collect your car for the MOT and then return it: ask the centre if it offers this.6

The most an MOT centre can charge for a car's MOT is £54.85.7

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If it has run out

What if my MOT has run out?

You can't drive or park your car on the road if its MOT has run out, except to drive it to or from somewhere to be repaired, or to a pre-arranged MOT test.5

You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT.5

If it fails, see My car failed its MOT: what now?

Where this applies

This guide covers England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has different rules and processes for MOTs for vehicles registered there.5

DVSA's figures cover cars and light vans up to 3,000kg in Great Britain, and DVSA says they are not classed as an official statistic.1

Sources

  1. GOV.UK (DVSA), MOT testing data for Great Britain: MOT class 3 and 4 vehicles, initial failures by defect category
  2. GOV.UK (Department for Transport), The Highway Code, Annex 6: vehicle maintenance, safety and security
  3. GOV.UK, Check your vehicle is safe to drive
  4. GOV.UK, Getting an MOT: How the MOT test works
  5. GOV.UK, Getting an MOT
  6. GOV.UK, Getting an MOT: Booking an MOT
  7. GOV.UK, Getting an MOT: MOT costs

First published 14 October 2026. Last updated 14 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.