What the annual roadworthiness test checks, and the five things that fail most cars

The annual test is a snapshot of whether your car meets the minimum safety and emissions standard on the day. It is not a service, and it does not tell you the car will be fine for a year.

The five most common failures

• Bulbs. A single dead indicator or number-plate light is a fail. Walk round the car with someone pressing the pedals.
• Tyres. The legal minimum tread is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters. Check the inner edge, where wear hides.
• Wipers and screenwash. Torn blades and an empty bottle both fail.
• Brakes. Uneven braking side to side, or a handbrake that does not hold on a slope.
• Suspension. Worn bushes and broken springs. You will not see these, but you may hear a knock over speed bumps.

What we do differently

If your car fails here, you get a list, photos and a fixed price for each item. You are free to take it anywhere. If we fix it, the re-test within ten working days is free.

Book the test straight after a full service and the car goes in at its best.