If your car fails its MOT, you get a certificate listing exactly what failed and why. You then need to have those faults repaired and the car retested before it can be used legally on the road, unless your old MOT is still valid and the faults are not dangerous.
A fail feels bad, but it is a list of jobs rather than a verdict on the car. Here is what the words on the paperwork actually mean, and what happens next.
The four things a test can find
Every fault on an MOT is put into one of four groups:
- Dangerous: a direct and immediate risk to road safety or the environment. The car fails and should not be driven.
- Major: it could affect safety or the environment. The car fails and must be repaired.
- Minor: not serious, so the car still passes, but it should be sorted soon.
- Advisory: something that is getting worse and is worth watching. It does not affect the pass.
Only dangerous and major faults cause a fail. Minor and advisory items are information, and they are the best early warning you will get.
Can I drive it home?
It depends on the fault, and on whether your old MOT is still running.
If the old certificate is still valid and the fault is not dangerous, you can generally drive away, but the car must remain roadworthy. If the fault is dangerous, do not drive it. Driving a car in a dangerous condition can mean a fine of up to £2,500, three penalty points and a ban.
If the old MOT has already run out, you may only drive the car to have the faults repaired, or to a pre-booked retest.
How the retest works
If you leave the car at the garage for repairs and it is retested within 10 working days, you only need a partial retest, which should not cost you anything. You get one partial retest for each full test.
Take it away and bring it back after 10 working days, and it counts as a full test again, with the full fee. That is the reason people who shop around for repairs sometimes end up paying twice.
At M D Auto Care we explain exactly why a car failed and we will put it back on the ramp to show you. The retest within 10 working days is free.
What you should do next
- Read the failure items on the certificate. Ask for each to be explained until it makes sense.
- Get a clear quote for the repairs, and ask which ones are needed to pass and which are only advisable.
- Decide whether to have the work done where you tested, so the retest stays free.
- Keep the paperwork. It is a record of exactly what was found and when.
Make the next one easier
Most fails come from a short list of things you can check yourself. Our guide to why cars fail their MOT covers them, and a ten minute walk round the car beforehand catches many.
Quick answers
How long do I have to get a retest?
If you leave the car for repair and it is retested within 10 working days, it is a partial retest with no fee. After that you need a full test again.
What is the difference between a major and a dangerous fault?
Both fail the test. Dangerous means an immediate risk, so the car should not be driven. Major means the car must be repaired, but it is not judged an immediate danger.
Do advisories mean I have failed?
No. An advisory is a note about something that is wearing, not a fault that fails the test.
Can you tell me what the repairs will cost before you start?
Yes. We always quote before we start and we ask for your approval first. No surprises.