Around 1.5 million vehicles fail their MOT due to simple things such as faulty bulbs, not enough tyre tread, or an empty windscreen washer fluid bottle. You can save yourself precious time and money by carrying out these simple checks yourself before taking your car for its MOT, and they will literally take you 2 minutes.

1. Headlights and indicators - Check that all of your cars lights function properly - headlights, sidelights, rear lights, hazard lights and indicators.
2. Brake lights - Press the brake pedal and ask a friend to check that the rear brake lights come on - including any supplementary brake strip light. Alternatively, carefully reverse up to a reflective surface (window, wall or garage door) and look behind to see for yourself.
3. Number plate - The number plate needs to be clean and legible, a quick wipe with a cloth to clean off any dirt can make all the difference. The font and spacing needs to comply with legal requirements.
4. Wheels and tyres - Check that wheels and tyres are not visibly damaged. The minimum legal tyre depth is 1.6mm - an easy way to check it to place a 20p coin into the main tread grooves of your tyre. If the coin goes in deeper than the outer band of the coin design than the tread is above the legal requirement. Although it is recommended you replace your tyres when the depth reaches 3mm.
5. Seats and seatbelts - The drivers seat should adjust forwards and backwards to allow the bet position at the steering wheel. The seatbelts also need to be in good working order. Pull all the belts out to the full length to inspect for any damage, and tug sharply to check that they react as they are supposed to if you were to brake suddenly.
6. Windscreen - Check the view out of the windscreen, any damage larger than 10mm in the 'swept' area directly in front of the driver will cause the vehicle to fail. As will any damage larger than 40mm in the rest of the windscreen.
7. Windscreen wipers - Your wipers need to be able to keep your windscreen clear, so any tears or holes can cause a fail.
8. Screenwash - Top up you washer bottle before taking for an MOT. Such a simple thing can cause it to fail.
9. Horn - Give the horn a quick blast. If it doesn't work you will need to have repaired or replaced.
10. Fuel and engine oil - Your vehicle needs enough of both of these for the MOT tester to be able to test the vehicles emissions levels.