What to Do If Your Car Fails Its MOT — A Step-by-Step Guide for UK Drivers
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What to Do If Your Car Fails Its MOT — A Step-by-Step Guide for UK Drivers
It’s never a good feeling when your car fails its MOT. But don’t panic — an MOT fail doesn’t mean the end of the road. Most failures can be fixed quickly, and understanding what to do next can save you stress, time, and money. Let’s walk through the exact steps to take after an MOT failure in the UK.
🚗 Step 1 — Don’t Panic: Understand Why It Failed
When your car fails its MOT, you’ll receive a fail certificate (VT30). This document lists the reasons for the failure and whether your car is still safe to drive.
There are three categories of MOT defects:
- Dangerous: Your car poses an immediate risk to safety or the environment. It cannot be driven until repaired.
- Major: Serious issues that must be fixed before your car passes the MOT retest.
- Minor: Small issues that don’t cause an MOT fail but should still be fixed soon.
👉 Tip: If your fail is classed as “dangerous,” you cannot legally drive the car — not even to another garage.
📄 Step 2 — Read Your VT30 Fail Certificate Carefully
Your VT30 contains important details such as the test station number, date, and full list of failed items and advisories.
Advisories are common — they’re not fails, but they signal things that may cause your next MOT to fail if ignored. Keeping up with these early can save money later.
🔧 Step 3 — Book Repairs Promptly
Once you know what caused the failure, book your repairs as soon as possible. If you leave it too long, your MOT expiry date may pass, making your car illegal to drive.
If the garage that failed your car offers repairs, ask if they provide a free partial retest — most do if you return within 10 working days.
If not, you can still take your car elsewhere, but you’ll likely pay for a full retest.
📆 Step 4 — Arrange a Retest
After repairs, you’ll need a retest to get your MOT pass certificate. Here are your options:
- Partial Retest: Free if you return to the same garage within 10 working days for repairs on listed faults.
- Full Retest: Required if you take your car to a different garage or miss the 10-day window.
- Retest Cost: Usually between £20–£35 if not eligible for a free one.
Always confirm with the garage before booking — rules can vary slightly depending on location and test class.
🧰 Step 5 — Prevent Future MOT Fails
The best way to save money and avoid future headaches is to prepare early for your next MOT. Check your lights, tyres, and fluid levels monthly, and fix advisories promptly.
Want to avoid another fail next year? Read our MOT Checklist Guide and our Top 10 MOT Fails Article.
💡 Final Thoughts
Failing your MOT doesn’t have to be stressful. With a calm, step-by-step approach — and a clear understanding of your VT30 fail report — you can get your car back on the road quickly and safely.
If you’d rather have expert MOT help, book a remote vehicle diagnostic session today. I’ll guide you through the process and explain your fail report live.