NCT checklist: what to check at home before the test (and the common fail items)

Documents and booking

• Vehicle Registration Certificate (or licensing certificate) for the car.
• Your driving licence or Public Services Card as identification.
• Booking reference, and the right test centre and time.
• Motor tax and insurance in date: not part of the test itself, but you are driving to the centre.

Lights: the quickest win

Ask someone to stand behind the car while you press the brake, or reverse up to a window or garage door and check the reflection.

• Dipped and main beam headlights, both sides.
• Front and rear indicators, plus hazard lights.
• Brake lights, including the high-level third light.
• Rear number plate light and fog light.
• Cracked or cloudy lenses and headlights pointing too high or too low.

Tyres and wheels

The tread wear indicators in the grooves are a quick visual check: if the tread is level with them, the tyre needs replacing.

• Tread depth of at least 1.6 mm across the main tread, on every tyre.
• No cuts, bulges or exposed cord on the sidewalls.
• Same size and type on the same axle.
• Pressures set to the figures in the handbook or door pillar.
• Spare wheel, if the car has one, in reasonable condition.

Visibility: windscreen, wipers, mirrors

• No cracks or large chips in the driver's line of sight.
• Wiper blades that clear the screen without smearing.
• Washer fluid topped up and the jets working.
• Mirrors present, secure and not cracked.
• No stickers, phone holders or objects blocking the view.

Inside the car

• No warning lights on the dashboard once the engine is running (engine, ABS, airbag, brake).
• Horn working.
• Seat belts latch, release and retract properly, front and rear.
• Seats secure; doors open and close from inside and outside.
• Handbrake holds the car on a slope.

Under the bonnet and underneath

Brakes, suspension, steering and emissions are tested with equipment, so they are hard to judge at home. If the car pulls to one side, knocks over bumps or the brakes feel soft, have a mechanic look at it before the test.

• Brake fluid, coolant and oil at the correct level.
• No obvious fluid leaks under the car after it has been parked.
• Exhaust secure, without unusual noise or visible smoke.
• Number plates clean, legible and in the correct format.

On the day

• Clear the boot and the cabin: the tester needs access to seat belts and the spare wheel.
• Arrive with the engine warm: a short drive beforehand helps the emissions test.
• If the wheels have locking nuts, leave the key in the car where the tester can find it.

After the test

If the car fails, the report lists what needs fixing. Retests usually have shorter waiting times than a first appointment, and some minor items can be checked visually without a full retest.

Once it passes, save the new due date straight away. In MiRicordi you can add the NCT, motor tax and insurance dates as reminders in one place, with an alert well before each one, even with the app closed.