Mot Check list

11 easy Pre MOT checks

We all dread MOT test time unless your car is under the government set limit for new vehicles of 3 years, however easy insurance has solved the problem of a surprise substantial bill with this simple checklist.

ALWAYS REMEMBER - Before taking your car for an MOT it is always best to have a good look at the simple parts checked in the test procedure, this pre M. O. T. checklist enables you to do this with the greatest of ease - this type of self pre mot check list is needed more so, due to the Ministry of Transport introducing charges for a re-test, except in certain test cases, a detailed list of the exceptions can be found on the official MOT government site.

Remember switch off your engine before looking under the bonnet and always take care.

Save yourself some money with this quick Pre MOT checklist and have fun seeing whats what :)

This guide should give you enough of an insite into what is entailed in a Ministry of Transport Test and what to check, repair or replace in order to pass it. The majority of the pre MOT checklist items are easy to carry out , however always take care when checking these pre test check points.

Electrical car lighting checks

• This includes all the following in working order :


• Headlights - Low beam & High beam
• Sidelights
• Brake lights
• Side repeaters
• No. plate lights
• Drivers side Fog light
• Hazard warning lights or emergency lights
• Left and right, front and rear indicators
• Rear number plate light

Interior checks

• This includes the following :


• Car seatbelts with no tears or slices working buckles & fasteners.
• Seat runners & mountings free from rust structurally sound and in correct working order.
• Car mirrors, windscreen, windshield and wipers/washers free from cracks and fitted correctly.
• Remember --- Stone chips are acceptable

Doors, locks and handles checks

• All car doors should shut correctly, meaning their should be no rattles, and the doors shut completely flush and be completely secure.

External car bodywork & chassis checks

• This includes sills, sharp edges e.g. cracked bumpers with protruding edges, The car has to be structurally sound therefore free from corrosion where structure is integral to the vehicle.

Engine bay & Engine component checks for the

• Inspection including fuel & brake lines free from rust and fluid.

Exhaust system for the including CAT if required

• The exhaust system including downpipe, manifold & rear silencer have to be sealed correctly, no rattles or excessive emissions, the emission acceptance Level is 14, anything under this is acceptable.

Tyre checks

• All tyres need to be of the legal tread 1.6m depth across 2 3rds of the complete tire and have no splits, gashes, bulges or illegal repairs e.g. tire wall repairs - including the spare wheel. The Wheels & bearings need to be in working order with no play.

Suspension checks for the test

• All shock absorbers, mountings, boots, bushes need to be free from corrosion and all dampers have to be free from leaks.

Steering checks

• The car steering should be smooth this includes the flow and the steering rack if there is any play in the rack this constitutes an MOT Fail, in addition all steering boots, joints & rack have to be in working order with no excessive play.

Foot brake & Handbrake checks

• Both the footbrake and handbrake have to be in perfect working order and have to be free from leaks, with no spongyness.
• The brakes themselves should be in good condition this includes the brake pipes being in working order with no perishing / no leaks and both rear cables to the handbrake fitted correctly with no overhanging cables.
• The vehicle also should not pull either way when braking or respond with irregular movement e.g. snatching.

Hope the checklist has been some help, feel free to print the guide or post the address on your site, in return we will post a link to your website on ours.

Always try and get a word of mouth recommendation for your MOT test. Going to a UK garage recommended by family or friend can save you a huge amount of hassle and more importantly money.

A few tips to help your Pre test checks go a little smoother.

These MOT checks are relatively simple, if you have a smalll knowledge of cars, the best way is for two people to carry out the pre test checks. In the case of testing the car's electrics, the best way to tackle this is - One operate the car electrics e.g. indicators, brakes etc, the other look to see whether they work satisfactorily.

• TIP : You do not need two fog lights only the drivers side!!!
  
  
• TIP : You only need your interior mirror and drivers mirror.


• TIP : You do not need door locks which are visible for a Test.
  
  
• TIP : Look for leaking lines & liquids around these areas.
  
  
• TIP : It will be noticable if the exhaust is blowing, due to a higher tone.
  
  
• TIP : A tell tale sign of a bearing on its way out is a whirr from the wheel when cornering usually only in one direction.
  
  
• TIP : A good way to test the shocks is the bounce test if you push the car down on one corner, and it returns the shock is generally ok.
  
  
• TIP : The best way to find excessive play on a steering rack, is to turn the steering wheel when stationary, if the steering wheel turns, but the wheels DON't, you have a worn steering rack.

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