Why Bother Preparing?
Around a third of MOT failures in the UK are for defects that could have been spotted and fixed at home. A retest costs time, and if your car has to stay with us for repairs, it costs you the use of your car too. Running through this checklist the night before your test takes about half an hour and can be the difference between driving away with a pass certificate or coming back for a retest.
Exterior Checks
- All lights working — headlights (dip and main beam), brake lights, indicators, fog lights, number plate lights, hazards
- Tyre tread at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters, no cuts or bulges
- Tyre pressures correct (check your handbook or the sticker inside the driver's door)
- Windscreen free of chips or cracks larger than 10mm in the driver's line of sight
- Number plates clean, secure, and legible
- Wing mirrors present, secure and undamaged
Interior Checks
- Horn sounds correctly when tested
- Washer fluid topped up and wiper blades clear the screen without smearing
- All seatbelts latch, lock and retract correctly, including in the rear
- Handbrake holds the car on a slope
- No dashboard warning lights showing — especially ABS, airbag, engine management or brake warnings
- Rear-view mirror present and undamaged
Under the Bonnet
You don't need to be a mechanic to do a basic under-bonnet check. Look for obvious oil or coolant leaks, make sure fluid levels are topped up, and check the battery terminals aren't corroded.
Documents to Bring
You don't legally need to bring anything with you for an MOT — the tester looks up your vehicle by registration number. It's still useful to bring your V5C logbook if you have any questions about the vehicle's history, and if your car has had recent recall work or repairs, a note of what was done can help if anything related comes up during testing.
On the Day
- Arrive a few minutes early so we can note any pre-existing damage with you
- Remove any loose items from the boot and footwells — the tester needs clear access
- Make sure the car isn't overloaded with heavy items, which can affect suspension and brake tests
- Let us know about any faults you're already aware of
If you'd rather skip the DIY route entirely, bring your car to Autoclinics before your test date and we'll run a free visual check over the items most likely to cause a failure. For a deeper look at what typically goes wrong, see our guide to the 10 most common MOT failures in High Wycombe.
Book Your MOT with Autoclinics High Wycombe
DVSA-approved testing, honest advice, and repairs & retests carried out on-site. Class 4 MOTs at the government maximum price of £54.85.
Book Your MOT Call 01494 450058