....I'd suggest taking it for a good run prior to the mot to blow the cobwebs away. What is often referred to as an Italian tune up.

Just in case you don't know what a 'good run' and 'Italian tune-up' mean......ensure the engine is thoroughly warm. This not just seeing the temperature gauge at normal, the oil should be hot as well, so in the absence of an oil temp gauge, at least 10miles into a 'run'. Then pick a good place to accelerate hard in a low gear to the 'red line' on the rev counter. If no rev counter you will just have to guess. Good places are long hills on dual carriageways where you can exercise the engine under load at maximum revs for several seconds. I do this every few weeks.

Assuming the car is not in regular use and you are insured to drive it, I'd suggest taking it for a good run prior to the mot to blow the cobwebs away. What is often referred to as an Italian tune up.

The point of the Italian tune-up is to avoid failing the test on emissions. If the car is a diesel (you don't say) a 10-mile run might be advisable if the car is normally idle. A shot of injector conditioner beforehand, or a few litres of super-diesel fuel in the tank, might also help.