What happens if my car fails its MOT?
What happens if my car fails its MOT?
An MOT involves several checks on your vehicle from safety components such as seatbelts, to mirrors, lights, and the braking and fuel systems. A standard MOT test usually takes between 45 to 60 minutes for a technician to complete.
You can drive your vehicle away as long as:
- Your current MOT certificate is still valid.
- No ‘dangerous’ problems were listed in the MOT.
Otherwise, you’ll need to get the vehicle repaired before you can drive.
Once these repairs are carried out, you will need to book a retest.
Advisories may also be found during an MOT, and whilst these may not result in a fail, they should be dealt with as soon as possible to ensure the vehicle remains safe and roadworthy.
We have established that some of the most common reasons for MOT failure are as follows:
- Lighting and signalling issues
- Damage to the windscreen and/ or wipers
- Brake faults
- Issues with the exhaust system
- Insufficient tyre depth
You can visit our blog ‘Common reasons for MOT failure’ to find out more.
