Jargon Buster

• Does a cracked windscreen fail an MOT?

  It depends on the size and where it is - the closer to the driver's eyeline, the smaller the damage needs to be to fail.

• Is a "corrosion" advisory serious?

  Usually not urgent yet, but corrosion near a mounting point is worth acting on before it becomes a fail.

• What does "play in steering rack" mean on an MOT?

  There's more free movement in the steering than there should be before the wheels actually respond.

• Does a warning light on the dashboard fail an MOT?

  Some do, some don't - it depends which light, and whether it's showing an actual system fault.

• What are the most common MOT failures?

  Lighting and signalling issues, like blown bulbs, are consistently the single biggest cause, year after year.

• What does "nearside" and "offside" mean?

  Nearside is the kerb side, offside is the middle-of-the-road side - in the UK, that's left and right.

• Does an engine management light fail an MOT?

  Yes, if it's on when it shouldn't be - it's specifically checked as part of the emissions test.

• What tyre tread depth fails an MOT?

  Below 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, anywhere around its circumference.