Vehicle inspection is the practice of having one's vehicle inspected by a certified agency as authorized by local or state governments. A vehicle inspection engross the testing and inspection of different areas of the vehicle to make sure the vehicle is safe for the environment and safe to drive on the roadways. The employees of the inspection station will also check the car for properly working safety features such as the horn, the headlights, the break lights and the brakes themselves. If any of these are not working or are working improperly, the inspection will be marked as a failure and the driver will have to have the car inspected again shortly after that.

Before a vehicle can pass an inspection it must pass all of the required tests and safety regulations that are law within each individual state or uniformed law across the country. Those tests also include emissions tests. Emissions are what the vehicle emits from its exhaust pipe. If the emissions are too dangerous for the environment the car will not pass inspection and will need to have the problem looked at by a mechanic and then the car must be inspected again. Although the bodywork isn't the most important feature, it can reveal if there are any serious problems with the car. For example, if the colour of a particular panel differed from the rest of the car, it could designate that the panel had been replaced, possibly because the car had been involved in an accident. The presence of any dented panels, scratches and scrapes can also indicate how well the car has been looked after. Many safety checks are also carried out. Tyres and wheels are checked systematically to make sure the tread is ample and there is no damage to them. Hub caps and wheel bearings will also be up to standard and free from any defects.

Of all the parts of a car, the engine is conceivably the most important. To this end, the inspection will ensure there are no strange noises, emissions or leaks coming from it which could indicate a problem. All the wiring will be checked to make sure the connections are good and nothing is loose.

When it comes to the exhaust, there are new rules in place that mean any car with extreme exhaust fumes will fail its MOT. The inspection will check the emissions are within safe boundaries, as well as checking the exhaust is properly fixed and not showing any signs of holes or rusting. Of course, the brakes are extremely important, and as well as making sure the brake fluid is at the correct level, they will be checked to ensure they are in good working order. The same applies to the clutch and gear system. If changing gear is a problem, for example, this would be fixed before the car is offered for sale - and the same applies to every point of the inspection.

The inspection also ensures less important items are checked, such as the CD player and the heating system for example. Even though you could still drive the car if these didn't work, they are still important to the overall attractiveness of a car.

The above steps should greatly increase your chances of passing the MOT with flying colours. Should you have any concerns, consult a qualified mechanic.