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Pre-MOT Checks You Can Do at Home

An MOT is an annual test of roadworthiness that every vehicle must undergo. There are a few checks you can do yourself at home to make sure your vehicle is in the best possible condition ahead of its test.

Pre-MOT Checks You Can Do at Home

Graham Thacker

Published: 31 March 2023

Updated: 31 March 2023

Read time: 5 minutes

An MOT is an annual test of roadworthiness that every vehicle must undergo once it reaches its third birthday, as well as every year after that.

There’s no getting away from the fact that when your car or van’s MOT test date rolls around, it can be a slightly uncertain time as you wonder how your vehicle will fare at the test centre.

So to help, and to give you a bit more peace of mind, there are a few checks you can do yourself at home to make sure your vehicle is in the best possible condition ahead of its test. Have a good look through our checklist, and work through the points to give your car or van the best possible chance of passing its MOT test.

Tyres

It may be a cliché that these four black circles are your vehicle’s only points of contact with the road surface, but that doesn’t make it any less true.

It’s really important that your tyres are correctly inflated, both for safety and fuel efficiency, so it’s a great place to start. Check your vehicle’s handbook or a sticker inside one of the front doors for the correct pressures.

Next, check the tread depth on each tyre. Every tyre has to have at least 1.6mm in order to pass an MOT, so grab a 20 pence piece and do a quick 20p test to check.

Lights

Headlights, taillights, and side lights all need to be in condition and in full working order, as well as the light that illuminates your rear number plate. It’s easiest to check them by asking a friend to help you, or waiting until it’s dark and using a wall to reflect the light back.

Brakes

Brakes are one of the most important parts of your vehicle, so it’s vital they’re working correctly.

Do a visual inspection to check for any excessive wear and tear, then go for a short drive to test the performance of your brakes. Car pulling to one side when you press the brake pedal? That could be something more serious, so it’s important to get it checked out before you go for your MOT test.

Engine Oil

It’s time to lift the bonnet! Get a paper towel or an old rag, and locate the engine dipstick. You can check your vehicle’s handbook if you’re not sure.

Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean, and put it back in. Wait a second or two before removing it once again, and finally checking that the oil level is between the minimum and maximum marks.

It’s important that your vehicle is parked on flat ground, and that the engine is cold too, so don’t check this immediately after you’ve driven your vehicle.

Interior Checks

To finish things off, there are a few things you can check inside your vehicle too. Give the horn a quick go to make sure it’s working, and double check that the lights in your instrument cluster all light up and then go out when you turn your car or van on.

Lastly, just check your seatbelts. They should all retract into their mechanisms correctly, and they should all lock when you pull on them sharply.

Spotted something that’s not quite right? Would you appreciate a second opinion? Get in touch with your local JCT600 dealership and book your vehicle in for a health check.

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Representative APR%
9.90% APR 		 First Payment
£249.71		 46 Monthly
payments of
£249.71		 Optional final
payment
£9,090.00		 On the road
price
£20,000.00		 Term of
agreement
48 months		 Customer deposit
£4,000.00
Amount of credit
£16,000.00		 Cost of credit
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8.4p		 Total amount
payable
£24,836.37		 Fixed rate of
interest
9.90%		  
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