Brexit guidance change explorer

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles

Inspection processes and rules for car, private bus and light commercial vehicle (class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicle) MOT tests.

Applies to: England, Scotland, and Wales (see publication for Northern Ireland).

There are different MOT inspection manuals for motorcycles, heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles.

Introduction
Definitions, vehicle classes, reasons to refuse to test a vehicle, narrow track vehicles, historic vehicles and inspection procedures for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.
0. Identification of the vehicle
Registration plate (number plate) and vehicle identification number rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.
1. Brakes
Brake condition and operation, service brakes, secondary brakes, parking brakes, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic braking system (EBS) and brake fluid rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.
2. Steering
Mechanical condition, steering wheel and column or handlebar, forks and yokes, steering play and electronic power steering (EPS) rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.
3. Visibility
Field of vision, bonnet catches, condition of the glass, the view to the rear, windscreen wipers and windscreen washer rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.
4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Headlamp, position lamps, daytime running lamps, stop lamps, indicators, hazard warning lamps, fog lamps, reversing lamps, lighting ‘tell-tales’, trailer electrical socket, electrical wiring and battery rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.
5. Axles, wheels, tyres and suspension
Axle, wheel bearing, wheel and tyres, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and suspension (including springs, shock absorbers, and suspension arms and joints) rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.
6. Body, structure and attachments
Structure and attachments (including exhaust system and bumpers), and body and interior (including doors and catches, seats and floor) rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.
7. Other equipment
Seat belts and restraint systems, airbags, anti-theft devices, horn, speedometer, speed limiter and electronic stability control (ESC) rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.
8. Nuisance
Noise, exhaust emissions, engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) (sometimes called an engine management light or 'EML'), and fluid leak rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.
9. Supplementary tests for buses and coaches
Entrance and exit doors, emergency exits, passenger grab handles, steps and stair rules and inspection for bus and coach MOT tests.
10. Seat belt installation checks
Seat belt installation rules and inspection for vehicles fitted with more than 8 passenger seats and first used before 1 October 2001.
Appendix A: Structural integrity and corrosion
Assessing corrosion and methods of repair for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.
Appendix B: Tyre load index tables
Tyre load rating and exceptions, and tyre load index tables for single wheel and dual wheel configurations for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.
Appendix C: Seat belt fitment tables
Seat belt fitment requirements and tables.

Update history

2024-11-29 09:30
Appendix A: Structural integrity and corrosion – 11. Unacceptable methods of repair – changed sentence from ‘If you cannot tell which the repair method, you should accept the repair and tell the vehicle presenter’ to ‘Sometimes it’s difficult to identify the repair method, especially after the repair has been covered in paint or underseal. If you are not sure what the method of repair is, you should pass and advise’.

2024-04-02 09:43
Nuisance – Nuisance – 8.2.1.2. Gaseous emissions – Added Visual inspection (all vehicles)

2023-02-06 15:09
Nuisance – 8.2.1.1 – Exhaust emission control equipment Update paragraph from “This inspection is only for vehicles that must have a full catalyst emissions test (disregarding the basic emissions test). You only need to check components that are visible and identifiable, such as catalytic converters, oxygen sensors, and exhaust gas recirculation valves.”To“You only need to check components that are visible and identifiable, such as catalytic converters, oxygen sensors, and exhaust gas recirculation valves.You should reject all vehicles first used on or after 1 September 2002, where original emissions control equipment components are missing, obviously modified or obviously defective.Vehicles used prior to 1 September 2002 should only be rejected, where a full catalyst test could apply. Use the flowcharts 1, 2 and 3 to decide which emission test is applicable for the vehicle being tested.”8.2.2.2 – Opacity Update from “The vehicle has passed the opacity test if any of the following happens:the first acceleration showed that the smoke level was at or less than the limit for the vehiclethe mean smoke level from the first 3 readings was at or less than the limit for the vehiclethe mean smoke level from any consecutive 3 readings was at or less than the limit for the vehicle”to”The vehicle has passed the opacity test if any of the following happens:the first acceleration showed that the smoke level was at 60% or less than the limit for the vehiclethe mean smoke level from the first 3 readings was at or less than the limit for the vehiclethe mean smoke level from any consecutive 3 readings was at or less than the limit for the vehicle”

2022-03-02 11:38
Appendix A: Structural integrity and corrosion – 5. Failure criteria not within ‘prescribed areas’ – Bullet point 2 changed from ‘The strength or continuity of a main load-bearing structural member is seriously reduced’ to ‘the strength or continuity of the overall vehicle structure is significantly reduced’