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MOT Sections
Lights And Signals
MOT checks for lights and signals on motorcycles are divided into seven sections. Please click on a link below to skip to the section of interest.
front and rear position lamps :: headlamps :: stop lamps :: rear reflectors :: indicators :: headlamp aim :: audible warnings
Front and Rear Position Lamps on a Motorcycle
note: the front position light, or sidelight, is considered separate from the motorcycle’s headlight and at least 50% of all light sources within a lamp must function. If lamps are obscured by other parts of the bike they will fail.
- The front light must emit a white light unless it is within a yellow headlamp and the rear must always be red
- Both lights must illuminate immediately once the switch is pressed, be securely mounted and not flicker when tapped
- The switch must also be securely mounted and again, tapping shouldn’t affect the lights
- One switch must operate both lights
Daylight MOT
If a motorbike has no lights at all, or they are taped, painted or permanently disconnected so as to emit no light whatsoever you can still get an MOT pass but you will receive an advisory note stating that the bike should only be used during the hours of daylight and not during times of seriously reduced visibility.
Fog Lights
The motorcycle MOT does not cover rear fog lights or amber lights within the indicator lens of your bike.
Motorcycle Headlamps
- Your motorbike’s headlamp must emit either yellow or white light
- It must light immediately the switch is pressed
- It should not be adversely affected by any other lamp or the horn
- It must not flicker when tapped or when the switch is tapped
- Both headlight and switch must be securely attached to the motorcycle.
Twin headlights
Only one or both headlamps need to illuminate for either dipped or main beam and they must be mounted one on top of the other or symmetrically and no more than 200mm apart.
Mopeds
For the purposes of the MOT mopeds are only required to have a functioning dipped beam.
Pre-1931 Motorcycles
If your bike was built before 1 January 1931 it doesn’t need a headlight at all but if there is one it must function correctly.
Motorcycle Stop Lamps
- Your motorbike’s stop lamp must emit only a steady red light
- It must light immediately once the switch(es) is pressed and switch off when released
- It should not be adversely affected by any other lamp
- It must be securely attached to the bike and not flicker when tapped
- Both brakes must operate the stop lamp unless the the was manufactured with only one switch
Slow Vehicles & Mopeds
Bikes which cannot exceed 25mph do not have to have a stop lamp fitted nor do mopeds which were first registered before 1 April 1986 but if fitted they must function correctly.
Rear Reflectors on Motorcycles
- Your bike must be fitted with one unobscured red reflector
- It must be securely fitted and reflect squarely to the rear
- It must be positioned along the motorcycles longitudinal centre line
Extra Reflectors and Tape
Only one reflector is required for the MOT but your bike will not fail for having more. Unfortunately reflective tape is not considered satisfactory.
Motorcycle Indicators
- Indicators must be fitted to a motorcycle and emit only orange light
- They must flash on and off, not just dim and brighten
- They must flash between 60 and 120 times per minute
- They must be visible when riding or have a functioning idiot light
- They must be securely fitted and so must the switch
- They must not be adversely affected by the operation of another lamp or the horn
Motorcycles Registered Pre-1986
Any motorcycle first registered before 1st August 1986 does not need indicators to pass an MOT
Slow and Off-Road Vehicles
Bikes which cannot exceed 30mph or off-road bikes designed to carry just the rider do not need indicators but if fitted they must function correctly.
Motorcycle Headlamp Aim
note: a specialist piece of equipment is needed to correctly check the aim of your motorbikes headlight but if you follow the guidelines below we would be happy to make minor adjustments if necessary free of charge.
- A motorcycle headlight should point directly forward and slightly downwards
- The dipped beam must kick-up to the offside of the bike
Audible Warnings
- Your bike must be fitted with a working continuous tone horn or horns
- It must be loud enough to be heard by other road users
- It must not make a harsh or grating noise
- It must be easily operable whilst riding
front and rear position lamps :: headlamps :: stop lamps :: rear reflectors :: indicators :: headlamp aim :: audible warnings
Hi there,
Would appreciate your help on the following, I’d like to be able to fit one of these led strips with built in amber signal indicators. here’s the link: (please watch the video on the page) http://cognitomoto.com/collections/lighting/products/led-turns-and-brake-z-flex-array
Will this pass an MOT? My motorcycle is is first registered in June 1986. Also the front headlight lense is currently an european version (right hand drive optics) and with a yellow tint, would this fail an MOT if I was to use the headlight conversion kit sticker on the lense? You can view my bike config on here: http://ventusgarage.com/bikes/scoundrel-kawasaki/
many thanks,
Arthur
You’ve cause an argument with this LED strip. We have, currently, no finite answer to this and for that reason it would be a fail if you brought it to us. Looks great though doesn’t it? I have contacted VOSA about it and will get back to you when I have an answer 🙂
Your headlight, as stated, would be fine.
Hi
I know that bikes registered before 1986 do not require indicators however I have a 1975 CB550 that I’m in the process of putting back on the road and my query is whether I’ll need indicators? I have the dating cert so it will be registered on an age-related plate though technically it’s being registered in 2016? Quite confused trying to imagine how it will be viewed by Vosa.
Many thanks
Marcus
If it’s a 1975 bike on a 1975 plate it won’t need indicators 🙂
Hi I have a trike with one slandered headlight for full beam and dip beam , directly below it there is a led headlight for side light and a secondary main beam is this set up ok for a mot pass ?
Sorry but we only offer MOT’s for Class I & II. Trike’s are a different beast – Class III 🙁
Hi, I’ve just flat tracked a 1983 zx550, I’m putting a new rear tail light on, does it have to have a running light and brake light or would it be ok with just a brake light?
It either has to have a full set of lights – headlight, rear light and brake light or none at all. As it’s pre-1986 you don’t need indicators though 🙂
Hi there, I’m currently buying a custom built Harley Davidson bobber bike, it’s registered as a L reg bike.
It Dosnt have a speedo or indicators. Now would this only have a day time MOT? And it so what would I need to do so I could ride it at night as well?
Bike’s registered after 1986 need indicators if you want to ride them at night. You will also need a headlight, rear light and stop light. Oddly enough the speedo isn’t covered under the MOT so it makes no difference.
If you decide not to have indicators and go for a day time only MOT you would have to remove *all* other lights as well. Even the stop lamp. Crazy, I know.
I ride a trike and was almost hit by a car coming towards me although I showing 2 led side marker lights on the front of the rear mudguards plus the headlight was on dip .(It was broad daylight and the car driver was sober) I have seen flashing white led lights would it be ok to fit one of these underneath the head lamp and still be legal?
I wouldn’t pass anything with flashing lights (except indicators, naturally) anywhere except an emergency vehicle, sorry.
Great site Tony, very informative page this, thanks in advance for taking the time to answer questions.
I have read all and have a question that hasn’t been asked (yet). I am wanting to perform the Honda 956 tail light mod to my blue/white SRAD, I am going to leave the current LED stalk indicators attached and will check if the integrated indicators on the unit flash independently of the brake light (if not I wont connect) but the unit in question has a blue lens, is this an MOT fail issue.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181698926668
cheers Robb
Integrated indicators are OK as long as more than 50% of the tail light remains clearly visible when they flash and the unit is E marked – otherwise indicators need to be 18″ apart by law. The blue lens poses no issue as long as the brake/tail light is clearly red when illuminated and the indicators are orange.
Just got a piaggio NRG 50cc for my son and the lift Indicators have stopped working will this fail a m.o.t
Yes. the indicators need to work as fitted.
hi firstly thanks for all the time you guys take to answer questions.
I have two very powerful crew spots on my old bike but my new bandit has rubbish lights so I was thinking about mounting one above the other on a bracket however they have a spot in the middle and a flare around the outside. I was intending to fix tubes over them to direct the flare. in regards to a low beam can I put a half circle plate on the end of the tube to give a flat light and if so would I have to tilt it so the left side is higher than the right. for the kick?finally does the high beam need to be flat tilted or focused at all and does it need to light up with the dipped beam on?
thanks
thanks for your help
Hi Jason, the MOT requirement is that your lights pass the beam test. So yes, if you do that correctly it will pass.
Hi there,
I’ve got a 1977 Yamaha IT400 enduro bike I want to mot. The headlight is mounted to the brackets on rubber bushes, it is secure but you can move it up and down by about 5mm if you grab hold of it. Will this pass or does it need to be unmovable ? Thanks
Dude. If it’s loose enough to bounce around whilst riding it will fail I’m afraid.
hi ive a lifan 125 im prepping for mot ive noticed that my headlight dims slightly when the indicators are in use it stays lit but dims a fraction is this a problem for the mot thanks in advance “yes with engine running”
Yes it is a problem unfortunately. It’s probably worth getting your battery checked/replaced.
hi there I have a rieju 125msx 2004 my neutral light does not work will this fail the mot or could I put tape over the light indicator so you carnt see it there fore you would be unable to test that bit
Don’t worry about it. It won’t fail because of the neutral light. Besides, it’s probably just a bulb that needs replacing…
ive got a cagiva mito evo 125, we fitted LED lights for indicator and it has dimmed the signal light on the dashboard, will this fail an MOT?
The MOT requirement is that it is clear to the rider when the indicators are flashing. So if you can easily see the indicators from a normal riding position you don’t need an idiot light at all. If not, the light needs to be bright enough to be clearly visible in daylight.
Hi there. I was hoping to replace my current indicators on my fz1-n with 50mm strip ones which attach by being stuck on the bike. I was either going to stick them on either side of the number plate or either side of the tail unit. Will this be ok for mot?
Thanks ed
Hi Ed, Difficult to say without seeing where you intend to stick them exactly but the important thing is that they need to be ‘clearly visible from the rear of the bike’ and this will be at the examiner’s discretion. They must also flash at the correct speed.
just bought a 1980 xs650 bobber it has a current mot and has an operational front brake light but looks like it has never been fitted with a rear switch is this an mot failure?
Not a problem on that age of bike 🙂
Hi, I have a Harley with a combined tail light, stop light and indicators. The previous light, where half the tail / stop light stopped when the indicator was flashing failed the MOT due to the operation one light affecting another. I now have another unit where the indicators are still built in but do not affect the operation of the stop or tail light, they flash separately. Reading a reply above will this now fail an MOT as well, and if so for what reasoning / regulation?
On a separate issue, my front indicators are built into the mirrors as led’s with two strips of five led’s on each mirror. One of the led’s is a bit temperamental and occasionally doesn’t light. Unfortunately you can’t replace the led’s so the whole mirror will have to be replaced, also requiring a pair to be purchased. Will this also fail the MOT if one led fails to light within a group? Thanks.
If the bulbs are contained within one lens, the bike will fail. If it’s a cluster of separate lenses but combined into one unit, as you have at the rear of most car, it will be fine.
One broken LED within a strip will not be an issue 🙂
Hi guys
Great site but i have a wee question i have a triumph sprint st 2002 and want to add a relay so both headlights come on at the same time instead of just the one as per factory spec is this legal to do this and will it pass the mot if done
The issue with this is the beam pattern. The lens is designed differently on each side so if you illuminate both at the same time your beam pattern will be too high for low beam and too low for high beam… Your best bet is to fit additional spot lights if more light is what you’re after.
hi,
got a Yamaha xs650 hardtail. i know about the “1986” rule for side indicators, but still got a dilemma. the bike is an american inport, manufactured and registered overseas 1980 (v5c states that), but imported and registered in uk only 1997. does it need the side indicators?
thanks
Arthur
to addition : just found something that looks like official wording of the regulation, and it says : “first used”, and there is no mention of UK or any other country. am i right in thinking it don’t need the indicators, as it was first used in 1980 (in usa) ?
Yup, that’s correct. The vehicle was first registered on the road before 1986 so it won’t need indicators 🙂
Hi, are there any rules as to where the tail/stop light can be fitted. I want to mount it on the left side of my bobber, would this be legal. cheers bill.
As long as it’s at the back, and visible from the back it will be fine. Did the same thing on my Bobber 😉
Hi,I have a slightly smaller number plate than what the law states,it’s not stupidly small would this be a fail?
The MOT rules ask us to make a visual inspection of the number plate If it looks obviously small by law we are required to fail it. If it looks OK it should pass. We would have to see it to answer the question definitively. Bring it down 😉