What Is Checked in an MOT? The Full DVSA List

An MOT checks that your car meets the legal minimum roadworthiness and environmental standards on the day it is tested. It covers brakes, steering, suspension, tyres and wheels, lights and signalling, seatbelts, the exhaust and emissions, the body and structure, and the driver’s view of the road.

It does not check the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox. That is the single most misunderstood thing about the test, and it is why a car can pass an MOT in the morning and be badly overdue a service in the afternoon.

The full list of what a tester examines

Testing is carried out to the DVSA MOT inspection manual. Broken down by system:

Brakes

Condition and operation of the service brake and the parking brake, brake pedal and lever condition, pad and disc or shoe and drum condition where visible, brake lines and hoses for corrosion, chafing and leaks, the fluid reservoir level, ABS and electronic braking warning lights, and — importantly — measured braking efficiency and balance across each axle on a roller brake tester.

That last part catches cars that feel fine. A binding calliper on one side means one wheel brakes harder than the other, and the machine sees it even when the driver does not.

Steering and suspension

Steering wheel and column condition, power steering operation and fluid level, steering play, track rod ends and ball joints, shock absorbers, springs, suspension arms, bushes and mountings, and wheel bearings. Much of this is done with a play detector — plates under the wheels that move while the tester watches the joints for movement they should not have.

Tyres and wheels

Tread depth must be at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread, around the entire circumference. Also checked: tyre condition for cuts, lumps, bulges and cord exposure, correct size and type for the vehicle, that tyres are not mismatched across an axle in a way that is not permitted, wheel condition and security, and that the spare — if it is designed to be used — is serviceable.

Lights and signalling

Every exterior lamp: headlights including main beam and dipped, sidelights, rear lights, brake lights, indicators, hazards, rear fog, reversing lights and number plate lights. Also headlight aim, which is measured on a beam setter, and headlight cleaning or levelling devices where fitted. This is the largest single failure category, and almost all of it is preventable.

Seatbelts and seats

All belts for condition, security and operation, including that inertia reels retract and lock properly. Airbag and SRS warning lights. Driver’s seat adjustment and security.

Exhaust, emissions and fuel system

Exhaust system security, condition and excessive noise, catalytic converter presence where required, emissions measured against the limit for the vehicle’s age and fuel type, and the fuel cap and system for leaks. Diesels are tested for smoke opacity, and a diesel particulate filter that has been removed or tampered with is an automatic failure.

Body, structure and general

Corrosion in prescribed areas near mountings and structural components, sharp edges or damage likely to injure, doors that open and close and latch securely, the bonnet catch, towbar condition if fitted, and vehicle identification and registration plates.

The driver’s view of the road

Windscreen damage — the limits are stricter directly in front of the driver — wipers and washers that clear the screen effectively, mirrors, and the horn.

What an MOT deliberately does not check

This is worth being explicit about, because it is where people are caught out.

• Engine condition. No compression test, no oil condition check, nothing about how well it runs beyond emissions.
• Clutch condition. A clutch on its last few hundred miles passes without comment.
• Gearbox condition. Not assessed.
• Oil, filters and service items. Not part of the test at all.
• Cambelt. Not checked, and a snapped one destroys most modern engines.

Knowing which items fail most often is the practical way to use this list. An MOT is a safety and emissions floor, not a health check. That is why an MOT and a service are different things and why most people need both.

How the results are recorded

Every defect found is placed in one of four categories:

The result goes onto the DVSA database as soon as the test finishes, so it is visible online whether or not you keep the certificate. You can look up any vehicle’s MOT history free on GOV.UK, which is genuinely useful when buying a used car — a pattern of the same advisory appearing year after year tells you a lot about how it has been looked after.

How much does it cost?

The test fee is capped by law. No garage in the country may charge more than £54.85 for a Class 4 vehicle, which covers cars and vans up to 3,000kg. Many charge less.

What is not capped is the repair work if the car fails, and that is where the real money is. The average bill to put right an MOT failure sits somewhere around £140 to £170, though a blown bulb is a couple of pounds and a suspension or brake failure considerably more. Our MOT testing page sets out how we price the work.

When should you call a garage?

You can check a good deal of the lighting, tyre and washer items yourself in ten minutes, and doing so genuinely prevents the most common failure of all — see our pre-test checklist.

What you cannot check at home is anything measured: braking efficiency and balance need a roller brake tester, headlight aim needs a beam setter, emissions need an analyser, and suspension play needs the car on a ramp with plates under the wheels. If your MOT is due and last year’s certificate carried advisories, it is worth booking a pre-test check so you find out about those on your terms rather than on the day.

We are a DVSA-approved test centre and a repair garage, so we can test and, if you want, repair. Book an MOT in Birmingham or ring us — we are open seven days a week.