It’s a moment most car owners dread: receiving the news that your vehicle has failed its MOT (Ministry of Transport test). Whether it’s a small issue or a major fault, failing the MOT can leave you feeling confused and stressed – but don’t panic! This blog will break down what your next steps should be after your car fails its MOT.
What is an MOT?
An MOT, or Ministry of Transport test, is an annual vehicle safety inspection required in the UK for most vehicles over three years old. Its purpose is to ensure that your car meets basic road safety and environmental standards. The test checks everything from lights to brakes to emission levels in order to determine whether your vehicle is roadworthy.
If your car passes the MOT, you will receive a certificate confirming its roadworthiness. If it fails, you will receive a report detailing what didn’t pass, what’s in danger of failing soon and how serious each issue is.
If your vehicle fails its MOT test, it is illegal to drive it on public roads until the necessary repairs and fixes are made and a retest is passed.
What to do if your car fails its MOT
If your car fails its MOT, you will be issued a VT30 Refusal of an MOT Test Certificate. This certificate will explain the reason(s) why your car has failed its test. You will to keep this certificate safe as you will need it when you book a retest or if you choose to appeal the decision.
Before making any repairs, ensure you discuss your test results with the test centre to get their advice and recommendations. You can then choose to get the repairs done at the same place you got the MOT test or you can take your vehicle to another garage to be repaired.
Once the repairs are complete, you can then contact the test centre and book a retest. The retest will need to happen within 10 working days from the date your MOT was originally due. If it’s after that period, you'll need to pay for a full MOT test again.
What if the repairs are too expensive?
Some repairs, like engine issues or extensive bodywork, can be incredibly costly to repair. If your car has failed its MOT and needs an expensive repair, particularly if the cost of repairs exceeds the car value, you may want to consider whether selling the car for parts or selling it to a Authorised Treatment Facility for scrap (like us at A&L!) is a more financially sensible decision.
Want to find out how much you can get for your MOT failure car? Click the button below for a FREE, no obligation scrap car quote!
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