Will my car pass its MOT? Pre-MOT checklist

Most MOT failures come down to small things you can spot on your own drive: a blown bulb, a worn wiper or a tyre near the limit. This guide gives you a 15-minute pre-MOT checklist, then answers the three questions we get asked most, straight from the official MOT inspection manual on GOV.UK.

Checked on 17 October 2026 against GOV.UK's Getting an MOT guide, the MOT inspection manual for cars, and the RAC.

When does my car need an MOT?

Your car needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration, then every year by the anniversary of its last MOT. You can get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date. The maximum a test centre can charge for a car MOT is £54.85.

You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving without a valid MOT. The only exceptions are driving to a pre-booked MOT test, or to or from somewhere to be repaired. Check your MOT due date free on CheckMOT.

What fails most often?

The RAC's figures from DVSA data show lights and signals cause the most MOT defects (29.6%), followed by suspension (20.2%), brakes (17.2%), tyres (10.4%) and the driver's view of the road (8.7%). Lights, tyres and the driver's view are all things you can check yourself.

Your 15-minute pre-MOT checklist

  • Lights: check headlights, sidelights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate light. Ask someone to stand outside while you press the brake. Swap any blown bulbs.
  • Tyres: cars need at least 1.6mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tyre, all the way round. Use a tread depth gauge and look for cuts and bulges. Set pressures from your handbook.
  • Wipers: a wiper blade that's missing or obviously not clearing the screen is a major fault. A split blade can still be a minor one. See our wiper blades.
  • Screenwash: washers that don't work or don't give enough fluid to clear the screen are a major fault, so top up before the test.
  • Windscreen: check for chips and cracks in front of the driver (see below).
  • Horn: give it a quick press.
  • Mirrors: all fitted mirrors should be intact and secure.
  • Number plates: clean and readable.
  • Warning lights: turn on the ignition. Warning lamps should light up and then go out once the engine starts.
  • Fluids: top up oil and brake fluid to the marks.
  • Tidy up: the RAC warns that a very cluttered or dirty car can lead to the tester refusing to do the test.

Will my car pass its MOT with the engine light on?

Usually not. The MOT manual says the tester turns on the ignition and checks that the engine malfunction indicator lamp (the engine management light) comes on and then goes off. A lamp that doesn't work, or that stays on to show a fault, is a major defect, which is an MOT fail.

This check applies to petrol cars (including hybrids) first used on or after 1 July 2003, and diesels (including hybrids) first used on or after 1 July 2008. Kit cars, amateur-built vehicles and American pickups don't have to have the lamp.

If your light is on, get the fault code read before the test. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner reads the code in a couple of minutes so you know what you're dealing with.

Will my car pass its MOT with a cracked windscreen?

It depends on where the damage is and how big it is. The MOT manual says a car fails if there is:

  • damage more than 10mm across in zone A, a strip 290mm wide centred on the steering wheel, inside the area the wipers sweep
  • damage more than 40mm across anywhere else in the swept area

The tester only fails it if the damage significantly affects the driver's view of the road. A repair that's finished flush and barely visible doesn't count as damage. So a small chip outside the driver's line of sight can pass, but get chips repaired early, before they spread.

Will my car pass its MOT with the ABS light on?

No. Under the MOT manual, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning light that shows a fault is a major defect, and so is a warning light that doesn't work at all. Missing or damaged wheel speed sensors and damaged wiring are major defects too. The same goes for an airbag (SRS) warning light or an electronic stability control (ESC) light showing a fault.

What happens if my car fails?

Your car fails if the result lists "dangerous" or "major" problems. You can drive it away only if your current MOT is still valid and no "dangerous" problems were listed. Driving a car that failed with a dangerous problem can mean a fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban and 3 penalty points.

Shop the MOT prep kit

See the full MOT prep range.

Book it, then never miss it again

Find an MOT centre and book online with CheckMOT, check any car's MOT history, and set a free MOT and tax reminder so the date never catches you out.

FAQs

Will my car fail its MOT if the engine management light is on?

Usually yes. The MOT manual lists an engine warning lamp that is not working or that shows a malfunction as a major defect for petrol cars first used from 1 July 2003 and diesels first used from 1 July 2008.

How big can a windscreen chip be to pass the MOT?

Up to 10mm in zone A (a 290mm strip centred on the steering wheel, in the wiper area), and up to 40mm in the rest of the area the wipers sweep. It only fails if it significantly affects the driver's view.

Is an ABS warning light an MOT fail?

Yes. An ABS warning light showing a fault, or one that doesn't work, is a major defect in the MOT manual, which means a fail.

How early can I get my MOT done?

Up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out, and you keep the same renewal date. If your MOT runs out on 15 May, the earliest is 16 April.

How much does an MOT cost?

The maximum a test centre can charge for a car is £54.85. Many centres charge less. You can book an MOT through CheckMOT.

Sources

Checked 17 October 2026:

This page is general guidance, not legal advice. Rules can change, so check the official sources linked above.