What Is Checked in an MOT Test?

Lights, signals and what you can see out of

The tester checks that every exterior lamp works, is the right colour, is securely fitted and points the right way. That means dipped beam and main beam, side lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, fog lamps and number plate lamps. A headlamp aimed too high or too low can fail even if the bulb is bright.

Visibility matters just as much. The windscreen is inspected for chips and cracks in the area in front of the driver, the wipers must clear the glass properly, the washers must actually spray, and the mirrors need to be present and secure. The number plates are checked too, for condition, spacing and legibility.

Brakes, steering and suspension

The brakes are tested on a roller brake tester, which measures how much braking effort each wheel produces and whether the left and right sides are reasonably balanced. The tester also looks at the condition of discs, pads, brake pipes and hoses where they can be seen, and checks that the handbrake holds.

Steering is checked for excess play, worn joints and damaged gaiters or racks. Suspension is examined for worn bushes, broken springs, leaking shock absorbers and corroded mountings. These are the parts that quietly wear out on rough roads, so they are a common source of advisories and fails on older vehicles.

• Brake efficiency and balance across each axle
• Condition of discs, pads, pipes and hoses where visible
• Steering rack, track rod ends and ball joints for wear
• Springs, shock absorbers and suspension mountings

Tyres, wheels and the body structure

Tyres must be the correct type and size for the vehicle, in good condition, and above the legal minimum tread depth. The tester looks for cuts, bulges, exposed cord and tyres that are rubbing on other parts. Wheels are checked for damage and for secure fixing.

The body and structure are inspected for sharp edges, serious corrosion in or near key mounting points, and anything that could injure a pedestrian or weaken the vehicle. Seats must be secure and the driver's seat must adjust and lock. Doors need to open and close safely, and the bonnet must latch.

Along the Tyne coast, salt in the air and winter grit can speed up corrosion underneath, so it is worth having a look at sills and underbody areas before the test rather than after.

Exhaust, emissions and seat belts

The exhaust system must be complete, secure and free from leaks that make it noisy or let fumes escape. Emissions are measured with a probe in the tailpipe, and the limits depend on the age and fuel type of the vehicle. Diesel cars are also checked for visible smoke, and a missing or tampered particulate filter can be a failure in its own right.

Seat belts are checked for condition, security and correct operation, including the retractors and buckles. Warning lights matter too. An airbag light or an ABS light that stays on can lead to a fail, so do not ignore a dashboard warning in the weeks before your test.

• Exhaust security, leaks and excess noise
• Tailpipe emissions against the limit for the vehicle
• Seat belt condition, fixing and operation
• Dashboard warning lights such as airbag and ABS

What an MOT does not cover

The MOT does not test the condition of the engine, gearbox or clutch, and it does not tell you when the oil, coolant or brake fluid is due for changing. A car can pass with a tired clutch and dirty oil. That is the job of a service, which is a separate piece of work entirely.

At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn we can test Class 4, 5 and 7 vehicles, and carry out MOT preparation, pre-MOT inspections and MOT failure repairs if something needs putting right. A pre-MOT inspection is a sensible way to find the small faults first.

Frequently asked questions