Is your car’s MOT due soon? Here’s what to check for a first-time pass

Unless your car is under three years old or classed as a historic vehicle, it’ll need an MOT each year. Designed to check a car’s roadworthiness and safety once every 12 months, an MOT is required by law and is something that all drivers will have to get sorted.

However, if you want your car to sail through its MOT first-time, then there are some areas to check. Let’s take a look at the key places to assess before your car has its MOT.

Lights

Make sure that your headlights are working as they should, either by asking a friend or relative to check them while you operate them, or by driving close to a shiny or reflective surface and looking at yourself. Do the same for the rear lights and don’t forget your indicators. It’s also important to check that the lights which illuminate your car’s registration plate are working, as they’re also checked in an MOT examination.

Tyres

Check that they’re inflated to the right levels, too, by topping them up in accordance with the vehicle’s specific requirements. You’ll find these behind the fuel filler door, inside the door shuts on the driver’s side or in the vehicle handbook.

Windscreen

A chipped or cracked windscreen can be a straight MOT failure, so give this area a good looking over too. Smaller chips should be repaired, and this can stop them from developing into something more serious.

Larger cracks – particularly those in the eyeline of the driver – will usually mean that the windscreen needs replacing entirely.

Wipers/Washers

While you’re looking at the windscreen, check that the wipers clear water away properly. Any rubbing or squeaking noises will usually highlight wipers which need to be replaced, but fortunately this isn’t expensive and makes a big difference.

Check that the washers are operating as they should, too. If the jets aren’t going in the right direction, you can redirect them by inserting a pin into the jet nozzle and moving it to the correct position.

Fuel/fluids

You’ll want to make sure that the levels are correct for oil, coolant and windscreen washer fluid, too.

Horn

This is a pretty simple one, but something that many people overlook. A faulty horn is actually a major failure in the UK, so make sure that it’s working just as it should.

Cleaning

Seatbelts and doors

Go around your car’s interior and check that all of the seatbelts operate as they should. Make sure that they lock into place properly and clean the area if there’s any dirt or debris there.

Make sure that all of the car’s doors open and close securely, too.