MOTs are stressful. And this generally doesn’t change all that much. Whether your first time running an MOT or if your car’s been through the process before, it generally doesn’t get that much easier. Fortunately, though, there are steps you can take. And, while these don’t always feel easy, it doesn’t have to be as worrying. In fact, with the right steps, you could potentially make the process feel significantly easier overall. So, don’t put yourself through undue stress.

Preparing for an MOT Check on Your Car

In the lead-up to an MOT, the following steps and tips may be well worth following. To begin, try a car checker tool to reveal the MOT history for free, including both passes and failures. After all, there are plenty of critical things you should keep in mind to help, including the following pivotal points.

#1 Clean Your Car

One of the first steps before your MOT is simple: clean your car. Indeed, this is courteous to the garage; after all, no one wants to dig through old rubbish left on the floor. In addition, it may allow you to identify areas of concern more easily, such as rust or leaks.

#2 Check the Tyres

With your car clean, the next port of call is to check the tyres. Indeed, these are among the fastest wearing components in most vehicles. It’s no surprise, then, that they can oft get worn out. Making sure they’re in good condition before your MOT can hence rule out one common concern. If your tyres are below the legal tread depth, you should replace them immediately (and, if they’re close, before the MOT).

#3 Check Fuel and Oil Levels

It’s always important to keep your car’s fuel and oil levels at a safe level. As such, before taking your vehicle for its MOT, double-checking these could be helpful.

#4 Look for Warning Lights

Engine warning lights are a sure sign that something is wrong. In line with this thought, looking out for warning lights on your engine’s dashboard is vital. If you notice any of these when turning your car on, this indicates a potentially severe fault; this may need inspection before taking your vehicle for its MOT.

#5 Seatbelts and Seating

Ensuring passengers are safe is one of the core focal points of MOTs. As part of this, ensuring your seatbelts are in good condition is imperative. If you notice your seatbelts are worn or if they don’t do up securely, now’s time to sort this. Otherwise, this will likely cause an advisory (or even a fail) on your MOT.

#6 Check for General Safety Worries

At the end of the day, MOTs check if your car’s safe to drive. So, always check the vehicle for any potential risk factors. Anything that’s not quite right could flag.

#7 Address Past Advisories

If your car had any past advisories, fixing these before the next test will likely be important. Indeed, an advisory can easily become a more serious fault between MOTs. As such, addressing past advisories before your next MOT is a must.

Don’t Panic!

The big thing to remember when prepping for an MOT is simple: don’t panic. Of course, this is far easier said than done. Nevertheless, it’s worth keeping in mind that a failed MOT isn’t the end of the world. It can be frustrating, sure, and repairing any issues may be costly. However, failing an MOT won’t usually mean the end of the line for your car. As such, if your vehicle has advisory or major faults, repairs can help get it back on the road.