Lights and globes — the easiest pink slip fail to avoid

The most preventable pink slip fail in our records is a numberplate light globe. Owners forget those exist because they never look at them. Do the two-minute self-test below before your inspection — it will catch 95% of light-related fails.

Every light the inspector will check

Front: high beam, low beam, both indicators, both front position lights, both front fog lights if fitted. Rear: brake lights (both plus centre high-mount), tail lights, both rear indicators, reverse light, both numberplate lights, rear fog light if fitted. Interior: dash warning lights, seatbelt warning if fitted.

The two-minute self-test

Park on a driveway facing a wall or garage door in the evening. Turn on headlights (see both low beams), flick to high beam (see both), turn on indicators (walk around watching all four), have someone press the brake pedal (all three brake lights), have them shift to reverse with foot on brake (reverse light). Walk to the rear plate and confirm both numberplate lights work.

1. Headlights low beam — both
2. Headlights high beam — both
3. Front indicators — both, blinking evenly
4. Rear indicators — both
5. Brake lights — left, right, and centre high-mount
6. Reverse light
7. Numberplate lights — both
8. Interior dash lights and hazard button

Headlight aim — the sneaky fail

Headlight aim is checked by the inspector, and cars that have had recent front-end panel work (bumper off, headlights removed and refitted) often have aim slightly off. Symptoms: your low-beam pattern is uneven left-vs-right, or the beam sits too high and dazzles oncoming traffic. A workshop can adjust aim in 15 minutes.