Government and industry data consistently show the same groups at the top of failure statistics. Addressing them early saves retest time and money.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical
Bulbs blow without warning. A quick walk-around the evening before your MOT catches many issues. Pay attention to number-plate lights and both brake lights.
Tyres
Insufficient tread, damage to sidewalls and wrong tyre types for an axle are frequent fails. If you are close to 1.6 mm, replace before the test — see our tyre law guide.
Brakes
Worn pads, seized handbrake mechanisms or imbalance show up on roller or plate tests. Grinding noise or a long pedal travel should be inspected before booking.
Visibility and wipers
Chips in the driver’s line of sight, missing wipers or empty washer bottles cause fails. Top up fluid and replace torn wiper blades.
Suspension and steering
Worn ball joints, leaking dampers and damaged coil springs are safety-critical. Unusual knocks over bumps are a warning sign.
Exhaust and emissions
Smoky diesels, leaking exhausts and faulty catalytic converters can fail the emissions check. Our exhaust and emissions guide explains more.
Book a combined service and MOT so fluids, filters and brakes are checked before the certificate test.
MOT booking