What does an MOT test check?
The MOT inspects the safety and environmental condition of a car’s main parts. That covers brakes, tyres and wheels, lights, steering and suspension, seatbelts, mirrors, windscreen and wipers, horn, fuel and exhaust systems, bodywork, registration plates and the VIN, but not the engine, clutch or gearbox.
Last reviewed . The official sources it draws on, and the date each was read, are listed at the foot of the page.
What is checked
- Brakes: condition, operation and performance, plus the ABS and stability-control warning lights where fitted.
- Tyres and wheels: condition, security, size and type, and tread depth. A tyre pressure warning light is checked on vehicles first used on or after 1 January 2012.
- Lights: condition, operation and headlamp aim, and the main-beam warning light.
- Steering and suspension: condition and correct working, including the steering lock.
- Seatbelts and seats: present, suitable, in good condition and securely fitted, with the airbag and pretensioner warning lights.
- Visibility and signalling: the windscreen, wipers and washers, the mirrors and the horn.
- Body and structure: excessive corrosion or damage in specific areas, sharp edges, doors, bonnet and boot.
- Fuel and exhaust: no fuel leaks, a secure exhaust that is not too noisy, and exhaust emissions checked according to the vehicle’s age and fuel type.
- Identification: registration plates, and a single vehicle identification number (VIN) on vehicles first used on or after 1 August 1980.
- Electrical: visible wiring and the battery.
What is not checked
The MOT is not a service and does not check a car’s general mechanical condition. GOV.UK says the test does not cover the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox.
A car can also be unsafe between tests: you remain responsible for keeping it roadworthy, and GOV.UK warns that a vehicle can be unsafe even with a current certificate.
How problems are graded
A car fails if the result lists a dangerous or a major problem. Minor problems and advisories are recorded as things to monitor or fix, and the car still passes.
Northern Ireland
DVSA’s guidance applies to England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland’s test is run by the DVA, which publishes its own light vehicle inspection manual.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Car parts checked at an MOTRead on 1 October 2026. The list of items inspected, the age cut-offs for the tyre pressure light and the VIN, and what the test does not cover.
- GOV.UK: Getting an MOTRead on 1 October 2026. Pass and fail, dangerous, major, minor and advisory results; the test does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox.
- GOV.UK: Check your vehicle is safe to driveRead on 1 October 2026. A vehicle can be unsafe even with a current MOT; the keeper is responsible for its condition.
- DVSA: MOT inspection manual for cars and passenger vehiclesRead on 1 October 2026. The scope note: England, Scotland and Wales, with a pointer to the DVA’s manual for Northern Ireland.
Related
More answers
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