A fail is not the end of the day.
More than one in four cars fail their MOT first time, according to the DVSA, and it is usually something small. A blown bulb, a worn wiper, a tyre near the limit. Here is exactly what a fail means, how the retest works, and what happens next.
Whatever it turns out to be, we explain it plainly and tell you what it takes to put right.
What a fail actually means.
If your car does not meet the DVSA standard on the day, it fails, and we cannot issue a pass certificate until it is put right. You get a VT30, a Refusal of an MOT Test Certificate, listing exactly what failed along with any advisories to keep an eye on.
A fail also means you cannot renew your road tax until the car passes. If your current MOT is still in date, you can keep driving on it, unless the fault was graded Dangerous, in which case the car should not be driven at all until it is fixed.
Minor, Major or Dangerous.
Every fault is recorded against the same national scale, and the grade tells you what it means for you right now.
The car still passes. A Minor fault is just noted for you to keep an eye on, but it is worth sorting before it grows into a Major.
A fail. It has to be repaired and the car retested before a pass certificate can be issued. You cannot tax the car until it passes.
A fail, and the car is not safe to drive until it is fixed, not even home. Best left with us or recovered, rather than driven away.
A lot of retests are free.
There are two situations where you pay nothing to have the car retested. We will always tell you which one applies to you before you decide what to do.
If we carry out the repairs and the car does not leave the premises, there is no retest fee at all. This is the simplest route, and usually the cheapest.
If the car failed only on certain listed items and you bring it back by the end of the next working day, the retest is free even if you took it away. We will tell you if yours qualifies.
From fail to back on the road.
No pressure and no surprises. Here is how we handle a fail, step by step.
Appealing a result.
If you think a result was unfair, you can appeal it. Ask for a VT17 form, which explains how to challenge the outcome of an MOT test, and do it within 14 days of the test. It is rare, but the route is there if you need it.
Far more often, a fail is just a small job. If you want to give the car the best chance next time, see exactly what a tester checks →
Failed somewhere else?
Bring it to us for the repair and the retest. A Class 4 MOT is a fixed £49.99, and the repair itself is priced on what the car actually needs.
All prices include VAT. MOTs are zero-rated, so there is no VAT on an MOT.