What is an MOT check?
Here in the UK, a car will need an annual MOT check every year, once it turns three years old, but what else does it consist of?
The Cazoo editorial team
Published on 22 October 2025 | 1 min read
Here in the UK, every car on the roads will need an annual MOT test every year, once the vehicle has turned three years old.
To keep all of our vehicles in tip-top condition, the MOT is a mandatory requirement in Britain and needs to be taken seriously.
But, what does the MOT test consist of? Should you buy a car that’s failed several MOTs? And, how do you check to see a second-hand car’s previous MOT history?
Here is our handy guide on all the information you need to know about the MOT test.
What is an MOT test?
The MOT test stands for ‘Ministry of Transport’ and is a legal requirement for any car that is three years old or older.
It checks to see if a car is roadworthy every 12 months, with the vehicle inspected on its mechanicals, electrics, body structure, engine fluids, safety and emissions.
If a vehicle passes the test, it will be fit for the road for another year; however, if a vehicle fails, any faults that prevent it from passing will need to be rectified immediately.
A car can typically fail on items such as badly worn tyres, blown headlight bulbs, extreme corrosion on the car’s chassis and worn-out suspension components.
When a car passes the MOT test, it may not be perfect and will be given ‘advisories’, which are there to warn the driver that there are some faults with the vehicle, which could cause it to fail the MOT next time around. These can be faults such as low tyre treads, deteriorating headlamp lenses or wearing out of suspension components.
Other things to consider are when cars are given ‘minor defects’, which are faults with the vehicle which won’t cause it an immediate failure, but need to be given attention soon, to prevent any further issues occurring.
Currently, the MOT test fee is set at a fixed rate of £54.85 for any standard car or motorbike.
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How can I check a car’s MOT history?
If you’re looking at a second-hand car, and you want to find out a little bit about its history, the Department for Transport’s (DfL) website has an ‘MOT check’ service, where you can simply type in the registration number of the vehicle you’re looking at to reveal its MOT history.
It will show you when the car was last MOT’d, the recorded mileage, the MOT test number, and if it passed, failed and whether there were any advisories and minor defects.
If you have the vehicle’s V5 logbook to hand, you can simply type in the document’s 11-digit reference number into the MOT check service, which will also tell you the locations of where the previous MOTs for that vehicle were conducted.
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How long does an MOT take?
A typical MOT test usually takes around 45 minutes to one hour, depending on the vehicle’s condition and size.
An MOT tester will start the test by checking that all of the car’s lights operate as they should and that the headlamps don’t dazzle oncoming drivers by checking their beam positions. They will then check that the seatbelts work as they should, and then proceed under the car to inspect the suspension components, brakes and chassis for any signs of wear and corrosion.
Then, the car will be taken over to the vehicle emissions section, where a prong will be inserted up the exhaust pipe to see if the car emits the correct amount of CO2 when idling.
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What checks can you do to make your car pass first-time around?
Did you know that the simplest things such as split wiper blades, low screenwash and delaminated number plates can all contribute to your car failing its MOT?
There are several checks you can do to make sure your vehicle passes its MOT first-time. Always check the condition of the tyres and that the tread depth is above 3mm. The minimum legal requirement in the UK is 1.6mm. Check that there are no chips in the windscreen and that all the light works as they should. Small things like blown brake light bulbs can all lead to an MOT fail.
A car can also be refused an MOT test if it’s low on fuel or there is a lack of engine oil. This is because the car needs to run throughout the test and could cut-out if there is no fuel. A lack of engine oil will cause the engine to run rough and could cause damage during the test.
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Should you buy a second-hand car that has failed its MOT?
If you’re in the market for a second-hand car and it has failed its MOTs over the years for things such as low tyre treads, blown headlight bulbs or worn suspension components, it shouldn’t be avoided as all these things are wear and tear items. However, if the car has failed multiple times over the years, it could be a sign that the car has been neglected and you need to take precautions before you buy.
Also, there are several used cars out there that are sold as ‘spares and repairs’, where a car has failed its MOT and needs work to get through the next one. If the vehicle has failed on several items that are easily fixable, and you know what you’re doing, they can make for a great used bargain. But, just be aware that these vehicles will need to be trailered away, as it’s illegal to drive a car on the public roads without a valid MOT. Once the car has had its faults rectified and is mechanically up-to-speed, it can be put through for an MOT, and if it passes, you’ve got yourself a cheap set of wheels.
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