How to check your vehicle is safe to drive before going out for essential reason

You must make sure your vehicle is safe to drive (‘roadworthy’). It can be unsafe even if your MOT expiry date has been extended.

You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get 3 penalty points for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

Checks you should carry out

Every time you drive you should check:

the windscreen, windows and mirrors are clean
all lights work
the brakes work

Your vehicle’s handbook will tell you how often to check the:

engine oil
water level in the radiator or expansion tank
brake fluid level
battery
windscreen and rear window washer bottles - top up with windscreen washer fluid if necessary
tyres - they must have the correct tread depth and be free of cuts and defects

The handbook will also tell you when your vehicle needs to be serviced.
Tyre tread

Tread must be a certain depth depending on the type of vehicle:

cars, light vans and light trailers - 1.6 millimetres (mm)
motorcycles, large vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles - 1mm

Mopeds only need to have visible tread.

There must be tread across the middle three-quarters and around the entire tyre.

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