Roughly a third of MOT failures are for faults an owner could have spotted at home. A few checks the week before your test can save you a failure, a retest, and the hassle of an unexpected repair bill.

THE FIVE-MINUTE CHECKS

  • Lights: Walk around the car with the ignition on and check every bulb: headlights on both beams, indicators, brake lights, fog lights, and the number plate light. Blown bulbs are one of the most common failures and the easiest to fix.
  • Tyres: Check the tread is above the 1.6mm legal limit across the whole width, and look for cuts, bulges, or uneven wear. Uneven wear can also hint at an alignment problem worth sorting.
  • Windscreen: Any chip larger than 10mm in the driver's line of sight, or 40mm elsewhere, is a failure. Get chips fixed early before they spread.
  • Wipers and washers: Torn wiper blades fail, and the washer bottle must squirt properly. Top up the screenwash.
  • Number plates: They must be clean, secure, and the correct font and spacing.

INSIDE THE CAR

  • Warning lights: The airbag, ABS, brake, and engine management lights are all automatic failures if lit. If any are on, get them diagnosed before the test.
  • Seatbelts: Check they clip in, release, and retract, with no fraying.
  • Horn: A quick press confirms it works.
  • Mirrors: All required mirrors must be present and secure.

THE AUDI-SPECIFIC ONES

On diesel models, a car that has only done short trips may struggle with emissions on test day. A good motorway run beforehand helps the DPF and gets the exhaust hot. If your Audi has adaptive or matrix headlights, make sure the self-levelling is working, as a fault here can fail.

WHEN TO GET A PRE-MOT CHECK

If anything feels off, or a warning light is showing, a pre-MOT inspection lets a specialist find and fix problems before the clock starts on your certificate. It is far cheaper to fix a fault in advance than to fail, repair, and retest.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I drive my car to its MOT without a valid certificate?

You can drive to a pre-booked MOT test with an expired certificate, but the car must still be roadworthy and insured. Otherwise it is illegal to drive.

How early can I get my MOT done?

You can test up to one month (minus a day) before the expiry date and keep the same renewal date, so there is no reason to leave it late.

What is the difference between an MOT and a service?

An MOT is a legal safety and emissions check. A service is preventative maintenance such as oil and filter changes. One does not replace the other.

What are the most common MOT failures?

Lighting faults, tyre condition, and windscreen damage account for a large share of failures, and all are simple to check yourself before the test.