Just like car insurance, the MOT certificate is a legal requirement in the UK as well as a vital part of road safety. You'll need an MOT to be able to legally drive a car which is over three years old on UK roads. If your vehicle fails this test, you will not get a certificate issued on test day and it may end up off the road while a mechanic fixes any necessary problems to make it legal. But there are a few things you can do before the test which may minimise the chances of this happening.

An MOT tester can refuse to examine a vehicle if it's unclean, particularly underneath the car, as this may hinder the test itself. So make sure it's reasonably spic and span and your boot is free of unnecessary junk which might slow or hinder the test too.

Basic tests

There are some basic checks of brakes and other items which could flag up problems before you take your vehicle in for the MOT. Try the handbrake, pulling it up as you would do when parking, if it's hard to do, and prompts a series of clicks more than usual, then it may need adjustment. If pressing on the brakes feels sticky or spongy, then there may be a problem here and there may even be air in the hydraulic system which must be removed.

Also, is there a crack or damage to your windscreen? Some small chips are fine, but larger marks, especially in the driver's field of vision, may be a problem. Turning the wheel can also show up any potential problems, as if it's loose or moves strangely then there may be something wrong with the column.

Even broken windscreen washers and wipers can result in a fail, so pay attention to wiper blades and make sure the wipers themselves and the screen wash works fine. Your horn should work as well when you press it, and there should be no problems with your headlights and indicators. Get someone to check that the bright lights also come on when you press the pedal. Number plate lights are also a common slip up, if they don't work you could also fail. Look at the colour of the indicator lights when they flash too, if they appear to been flashing white rather than orange, then the paint on the bulbs may be flaking and they may need changing.

Seatbelts

Seatbelts also need to be in good condition for obvious reasons, and if they are frayed or worn you could also be in for a fail. Also check the clasps and fasteners, ensuring they are working properly.

Tyre treads are also a common failure - and they must have at least 1.6mm of depth in tread, and although this is the minimum, it can pay to change them before they reach this point. Anything even slightly below this limit on any of your tyres will likely result in a fail.

Although you can never predict exactly what will happen on test day, looking after your car can help cut the risks of a troublesome fail - potentially saving your wheels from a long period on the sidelines as well as costly car insurance claims.

Russell Marlow is a London based freelance writer who writes about financial products including car insurance.