Failed Your MOT? Retests, Repairs and Driving Rules
Written by Petro Olekhnovych, mobile mechanic in Aylesham, Kent
If your car failed its MOT, what happens next depends on two things: whether any fault was “dangerous”, and whether your old MOT certificate is still valid. Get the failed items repaired, then have the car retested. If you act quickly and go back to the same test centre, the retest may be free or cheaper.
Why your car failed: dangerous and major defects
The MOT sorts problems into categories. Your car fails if the result lists any “dangerous” or “major” defects. Minor defects and advisories do not cause a fail on their own.
- Dangerous: a direct and immediate risk to road safety.
- Major: a defect that may affect the safety of the vehicle.
The test centre will give you a refusal certificate, and the result is recorded on the MOT database. You can see it online through GOV.UK’s MOT history service.
Read the list carefully. It tells you exactly what needs fixing before the retest. If you also had advisories, our guide to MOT advisories explains how to deal with those.
Can you drive a car that failed its MOT?
GOV.UK says you can only take the vehicle away if:
- Your current MOT certificate is still valid, and
- No “dangerous” problems were listed.
If either is not true, the car must be repaired before you drive it. The only journeys allowed without a valid MOT are to or from a repair, or to a pre-arranged MOT test.
Even when you can drive it away, the car must meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness at all times.
The penalties are serious:
- Driving a vehicle that failed with a “dangerous” problem can mean a fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban and 3 penalty points.
- Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
If your car failed on brakes, steering or anything marked dangerous, do not drive it. Have a mechanic come to you instead.
Want to pass your MOT first time?
We do pre-MOT checks and fix advisories at your home or work across East Kent.
WhatsApp for a free quote Call 07563 350335
Labour £30 to £50 per hour depending on the job. Send your reg number and we will reply with a price before any work starts.
How MOT retests work
The rules depend on where the repair is done and how soon you go back.
Repairs done at the test centre. If you leave the car at the test centre for repair, it needs a partial retest within 10 working days. There is no fee.
Back by the end of the next working day. If you take the car away and return it to the same test centre before the end of the next working day, you will not pay again for certain items. These include:
- Body and access: bonnet, boot, doors, tailgate and panels
- Electrical: battery, wiring and lamps (except headlamp aim)
- Controls and safety: seatbelts, seats, steering wheel, mirrors, horn, windscreen, wipers and washers
- Wheels and tyres
- Identification: registration plates and VIN
Back within 10 working days. If you take the car away for repairs and return it within 10 working days, you need a partial retest. A partial retest fee may apply.
Any other case. You need a full retest and pay the full MOT fee again. The maximum MOT fee for a car is £54.85.
The clock is short, so it pays to get repairs booked straight away.
Think the fail was wrong? You can appeal
If you believe the result is wrong, talk to the test centre first. GOV.UK says you should not have any repairs made until the appeal process has finished.
You must appeal to the DVSA within 14 working days of the test, using its complaint form. The DVSA will contact you within 5 days. If it rechecks the car, you pay the full test fee again, but you get it back if the appeal succeeds.
How we can help
We are a mobile mechanic based in Aylesham, covering Canterbury, Dover, Deal, Sandwich, Folkestone and nearby villages. We come to your home or workplace, which helps when your car is not safe or legal to drive.
We are not an MOT test centre, so we do not carry out the test or retest. What we can do:
- Repair confirmed MOT failure items such as brake pads and brake discs, and handle servicing work.
- Come out and diagnose any other failure items, then tell you what they need.
- Agree the price on WhatsApp before we start. Labour is £30-£50 per hour depending on the job, with parts extra.
Send us a photo of your refusal certificate so we can see what failed. Then you can take it back for the retest. Looking ahead, our car service checklist and common MOT failures guide can help next year’s test go more smoothly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive home after failing my MOT?
Only if your current MOT is still valid and no dangerous defects were found. Otherwise the car must be repaired first, though you may drive it to a pre-arranged repair or MOT test.
Is an MOT retest free?
It can be. It is free if the car stays at the test centre for repair and is retested within 10 working days. It is also free for certain items if you return to the same centre by the end of the next working day.
Does a failed MOT go on my car’s record?
Yes. Fails are recorded on the MOT database and appear on the vehicle’s MOT history on GOV.UK.
Should I get repairs done before appealing?
No. GOV.UK says not to have any repairs made until the appeal process has finished.
Need help? Send a WhatsApp to 07563 350335 with your car’s make and model and we’ll come to you.
Want to pass your MOT first time?
Message us on WhatsApp with your reg and postcode for a price before any work starts.
WhatsApp for a free quote Call 07563 350335
Labour £30 to £50 per hour depending on the job. Send your reg number and we will reply with a price before any work starts.
