Motorists are being advised to remove a common item from their vehicles to avoid the risk of failing their MOT test. Car experts have also highlighted some unexpected checks that car owners should carry out to ensure their vehicle passes the inspection.

The annual MOT can be a source of anxiety for many drivers, as minor faults they may not have considered can result in failure. Issues such as defective number plate lights or an empty windscreen washer fluid reservoir are among the various reasons why MOT test centres fail vehicles.

Specialists from and its sister site previously shared a number of checks drivers should make to ensure their car passes the test with the .

One of their top tips is to remove air fresheners. While recent figuers suggest some 42% of drivers choose to add these to their interiors, it's advisable to take down any hanging air fresheners during the test.

Technically, they could be seen as obstructing the driver's view, and any obstruction of vision can lead to an automatic failure.

As well as this, number plate lights are a legal requirement to ensure your car can be easily identified by police, other road users and speed cameras. It's crucial to check these even before an MOT is due, as non-functioning licence plate lights can result in a fixed penalty fine.

Seat belts can become frayed over time, which becomes a serious issue if the condition worsens. If they aren't clicking in or they come out once pulled hard, then a failure is imminent.

And one of the most overlooked checks to make before an MOT is checking the amount of screen wash in the car. This is an easy failure to avoid with a simple solution - purchasing ready to use screen wash and filling up the fluid bottle.

Since 2018, vehicles used from September 2009 must have working reversing lights otherwise it will lead to a failed MOT. Some road users are unaware of this rule change, so it's important to test those bulbs too.