By pre-MOT inspection I mean my own inspection of all bulbs, tyres, etc., and includes getting under the car to check exhaust and rust, and removing all the wheels to check track rod ends, gaiters, drop arms, oil leaks, etc, in fact all I can check.
That's great Terry
gives you chance to check and clean up brake pipes and other little jobs too
(surface rust on brake pipes leads to many MOT fails because the tester sees rust and does not have time to inspect the pipework and ferrules in depth ,so fails them) plus bulbs etc are very common to fail a test,
Also , an mot tester may miss something ,so doing an mot pre check if you have the ability ,ramps/pit, axle stands to do one because then 2 sets of eyes have looked and checked the car.
but a minor exhaust blow can be patched , get an mot, then fit a new exhaust .
just be honest with the tester and say "i will replace the exhaust myself after the test" that way ,your also saying that any work will be done by you, and you will NOT be paying for the garages next Spanish holiday (or Butlins IF Brexit happens)
Good on you Terry for checking a car BEFORE MOT , rather than have a silly list of fails