MOT Failure: What Happens Next?

The annual MOT test is a crucial checkpoint for every vehicle in the UK, ensuring it meets minimum road safety and environmental standards. It’s a moment of truth for many car owners, and the news of a failed MOT can certainly cause a knot in the stomach. But what exactly happens when your beloved vehicle doesn't pass muster? Understanding the immediate implications, the retest procedures, and the legalities involved is paramount to ensure you stay on the right side of the law and get your car back on the road safely.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about an MOT failure, from deciding whether you can drive your car away from the test centre to navigating the retest process and understanding common failure points. Our aim is to demystify the process and provide clear, actionable advice.

Understanding Your Vehicle's Status After an MOT Failure

When your car fails its MOT, the first thing to understand is its immediate legal status. This isn't always as straightforward as a simple 'pass' or 'fail' and depends on a few critical factors:

Driving Away from the Test Centre

You might be able to drive your vehicle away from the test centre even after a failure, but only under specific conditions. Firstly, your current MOT certificate must still be valid. This often happens if you've taken your car for its MOT a few weeks before its expiry date. Secondly, and critically, no 'dangerous' problems must have been listed on the MOT failure report. If only 'major' defects were identified, and your existing MOT certificate is still valid, you are generally permitted to drive the vehicle to a place where it can be repaired.

However, if your vehicle has been issued with a 'dangerous' defect, or if your existing MOT certificate has already expired, then it is illegal to drive the car on public roads. In such cases, the vehicle is deemed unroadworthy and poses an immediate risk. You would need to arrange for it to be towed or transported from the test centre to a repair garage.

The Dangers of Driving with a Failed MOT

Regardless of whether your previous MOT certificate is still valid, if your car has failed, it means it has defects that need addressing. Driving a vehicle that has failed its MOT, especially with 'dangerous' defects, is not only against the law but also incredibly risky. You could face significant penalties, including fines and points on your licence, and your insurance could be invalidated in the event of an accident. Furthermore, it puts yourself, your passengers, and other road users at risk.

Retests and Fees: Navigating the MOT Aftermath

Once your vehicle has failed, the next step is to address the issues and arrange a retest. The cost and type of retest depend largely on how quickly you act and where the repairs are carried out.

Partial Retest

A partial retest is the most cost-effective option. You’ll only need a partial retest if you take the vehicle from the original test centre for repairs and return it for the retest within 10 working days. This typically means the garage will only re-check the items that failed the initial test, rather than performing a full inspection again. Be aware that the test centre is permitted to charge a partial retest fee for this service, though some may offer it for free as part of their repair service.

Full Retest

In all other cases, you will need to get a full retest and pay the full MOT test fee again. This applies if:

• You take the vehicle away for repairs and return it after 10 working days.
• You have the repairs carried out at a different garage.
• Your vehicle failed due to 'dangerous' defects and had to be transported for repairs.

It's crucial to remember the time limits for retests. While a partial retest must be within 10 working days for the reduced fee, all retests, whether partial or full, must be completed within 60 days of the original test. If you exceed this 60-day window, a completely new MOT test will be required.

Summary of Retest Scenarios

Common Reasons for MOT Failure

Understanding the most frequent causes of MOT failure can help you perform pre-MOT checks and potentially avoid the stress of a failed test. The provided information highlights several key areas:

Tyres

Tyres are a very common failure point. The minimum legal tyre tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread around the entire circumference of the tyre. Any tyre with less than this will result in an MOT fail. It's often recommended that tyres are changed when tread reaches 3mm for optimal safety, especially in wet conditions, even though the legal limit is lower. Tyre condition, such as cuts, bulges, or exposed cords, will also lead to a failure.

Engine Management Light (EML)

Under current MOT rules, if your Engine Management Light (EML) remains illuminated when the engine has been started, your car will fail its MOT. This is now classified as a major fault. An illuminated EML indicates a fault within the engine's electronic control system, which could range from a minor sensor issue to a significant engine problem affecting emissions or performance.

Vehicle Structure and Attachments

The structural integrity of your vehicle is paramount for safety. The MOT test includes a thorough check of the vehicle's structure and attachments, including the exhaust system and bumpers. Excessive corrosion, damage, or insecure mountings in these areas will lead to a failure. For example, a corroded chassis or a loose exhaust could be deemed unsafe.

Body and Interior

This section covers various components that ensure the safety and functionality of the vehicle's interior and exterior. Inspectors will check doors and their catches, seats, and the floor. All components must be free from excessive corrosion and should not have any sharp edges that might cause injury. Doors must open and close securely, with front doors requiring both internal and external opening mechanisms. Rear doors are also checked, particularly if access is needed for other testable items like rear seatbelts.

Braking System

The braking system is, understandably, a critical area of inspection. This includes the service brakes (foot brake) and the parking brake (handbrake).

• Parking Brake ('Handbrake'): The security and corrosion of the parking brake lever’s mountings are checked. On electronic parking brake systems, an illuminated warning light will result in a failure. A manual parking brake lever should not have excessive travel before engaging; typically, a normal handbrake should take between 5 and 8 clicks to engage fully. More clicks may indicate looseness, while fewer could mean it's too tight and potentially dragging.
• Brake Discs: Brake disc run-out is a specific measurement of how much the disc deviates from being perfectly flat as it rotates. The maximum amount of tolerance for brake disc run-out is typically very small, often cited as >0.08mm. A reading of, for example, 0.2mm on a nearside front brake disc indicates excessive lateral run-out, which will cause a failure. Brake disc run-out can be caused by various factors, including skewed seating relative to the hub (perhaps due to contamination or deformation), wheel bearing play, or caliper misalignment. Checking brake discs for run-out requires specialist equipment and is typically performed by professionals during the MOT.

Frequently Asked Questions About MOT Failures

It's natural to have many questions when faced with an MOT failure. Here are some of the most common queries, addressed thoroughly:

How long do you have between MOT and retest?

If your vehicle fails an MOT test, and you take it away for repairs, you have up to 10 working days to return it to the original test centre for a partial retest, which may incur a reduced fee. However, all retests, whether partial or full, must be completed within 60 days of the original test date. Beyond 60 days, a completely new MOT test will be required, incurring the full fee again. It's important to note that if your vehicle fails, it is immediately treated as not being roadworthy, regardless of whether you have time remaining on an existing MOT certificate, if 'dangerous' defects were found.

How long can I drive my car after MOT expires?

Driving a car without a valid MOT certificate is illegal. You must ensure you book an appointment and get your car tested before your current certificate runs out. There is no grace period after your MOT expires. The only exception to driving without a valid MOT is when driving directly to a pre-booked MOT test, or to a garage for repairs to pass an MOT, and your vehicle must be in a roadworthy condition for this journey. If your car has failed its MOT, you can only continue to drive it if the previous year’s MOT is still valid and no dangerous problems were identified during the test. For instance, if you take your car in for a test a few weeks early and it fails, you might still have a valid MOT certificate from the previous year. But if 'dangerous' defects are found, you cannot drive it, even if the old MOT is valid.

How long before MOT expires can I retest?

You can have an MOT carried out up to one calendar month prior to the expiry date of your existing MOT certificate. Doing so will still preserve the anniversary of the expiry date. For example, if your MOT expires on 15th July, you can get it tested anytime from 16th June onwards, and the new certificate will still be valid until 15th July of the following year, effectively giving you 13 months of cover.

Can you drive with a major defect on MOT?

Major defects will cause your vehicle to fail its MOT and must be repaired immediately. However, they do not automatically mean the vehicle is unroadworthy in the same way 'dangerous' defects do. Therefore, if your current MOT certificate is still valid and only 'major' defects were found (no 'dangerous' ones), you can drive it from the test centre directly to a place where it can be fixed. You should not use the car for general driving until these major defects are rectified.

What is classed as an MOT failure?

An MOT failure occurs when your vehicle has 'major' or 'dangerous' defects. Examples include, but are not limited to: tyre tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, an illuminated Engine Management Light (EML), excessive corrosion on structural components, damaged or insecure exhaust systems, faulty brake components (like excessive brake disc run-out or a poorly functioning handbrake), and issues with lights, mirrors, or windscreen wipers. Any defect that compromises the vehicle's safety or environmental standards to a significant degree will result in a failure.

Does an engine light fail an MOT?

Yes, absolutely. If your Engine Management Light (EML) remains on when the engine has been started, your car will fail its MOT. Under the updated MOT rules, an illuminated EML is classified as a 'major' fault, indicating a significant issue with the engine's control system or emissions.

Does MOT check structure?

Yes, the MOT test includes a thorough inspection of the vehicle's structure and attachments. This covers the chassis, bodywork, engine mountings, exhaust system, and bumpers. Inspectors look for excessive corrosion, damage, and secure fastenings to ensure the vehicle's structural integrity and safety.

Do they check your boot in MOT?

Yes, a general inspection of the body, chassis, engine mountings, seats, bonnet, boot, and doors is carried out. The boot area is checked to ensure it is free from excessive corrosion and does not have any sharp edges that could cause injury. While the contents of your boot aren't typically inspected, the structural integrity and functionality of the boot itself are part of the overall bodywork check.

Do doors need to open for MOT?

Yes, doors must open and close properly and securely. The door catch must retain the door firmly in the closed position. Front doors specifically must be able to open from both inside and outside the vehicle. Rear doors are also checked, especially if opening them is necessary to gain access to other testable items, such as rear seatbelts.

How is the handbrake tested at MOT?

The parking brake, or handbrake, is rigorously tested. The lever's mountings are checked for security and corrosion. For electronic systems, an illuminated parking brake warning light will result in a failure. For manual handbrakes, the lever must not have obvious excessive travel before engaging. Inspectors will also check the effectiveness of the parking brake on a brake roller test, ensuring it can adequately hold the vehicle stationary.

How long does an MOT take?

An average MOT test typically takes between 45 and 60 minutes. However, this timeframe only accounts for the inspection itself. If your vehicle fails the test and requires repairs, the overall time your car spends at the garage will naturally be longer, depending on the nature and extent of the necessary work.

How many times should a handbrake click?

While there isn't an exact universal number, a properly adjusted manual handbrake should typically take between 5 and 8 clicks to fully engage. If it clicks more than this, it might be too loose and require adjustment, potentially leading to a failure. Fewer than 5 clicks could indicate it's too tight, which can cause the brakes to drag and lead to premature wear or even complete failure.

What is the max brake disc run out?

The maximum permissible amount of tolerance for brake disc run-out (lateral deviation) is typically very small, often specified as no more than 0.08mm. Any reading greater than this, such as 0.2mm as mentioned in the provided information, indicates excessive lateral run-out and will result in an MOT failure.

What causes brake disc run out?

Brake disc run-out can be caused by several factors. A common cause is a skewed seating of the disc relative to the hub, which might be the result of contamination (e.g., rust or dirt) on the seating surface during installation, or deformation of the hub itself. Other contributing factors can include excessive wheel bearing play, which allows the hub and disc to wobble, or misalignment of the brake caliper, which can apply uneven pressure and cause warping over time.

Conclusion

Facing an MOT failure can be daunting, but it's a vital part of ensuring your vehicle's safety and legality on UK roads. By understanding the conditions under which you can drive your car after a failure, the retest procedures, and the common reasons vehicles don't pass, you can navigate the process with confidence. Always prioritise safety and legality: if your car is deemed unroadworthy or has 'dangerous' defects, do not drive it. Address the issues promptly, get your vehicle repaired, and secure that pass certificate to keep yourself and others safe on the road.

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