MOT Failed? Here's Exactly What To Do Next

## Your Car Failed Its MOT. Now What?

You took your car for its MOT. It failed.

Maybe it was something small. Maybe it's a list of problems. Either way, you need to know what to do next.

Here's the thing: a failed MOT isn't the end of the world. Most failures are fixable, and you have options for how to handle it.

Let's break it down.

Understanding Your MOT Results

When your car fails, you'll get a document listing the problems. These fall into categories:

Dangerous Defects Serious safety issues. Your car is not safe to drive. You cannot legally drive it until fixed (except directly to a garage for repairs).

Major Defects Significant problems that caused the failure. Must be fixed before your car can pass.

Minor Defects Small issues that don't cause failure but should be addressed. Your car still fails if there are major defects too.

Advisories Things to keep an eye on. They didn't cause failure but might in the future. Good to know about.

Can You Still Drive After A Failed MOT?

It depends on your situation:

If Your Previous MOT Is Still Valid You can drive normally until your current MOT expires. The failed test doesn't invalidate your existing certificate. Get the repairs done before it expires.

If Your MOT Has Already Expired You can ONLY drive to: - A pre-booked MOT test - A pre-booked repair appointment - Your home (the shortest route)

Driving for any other reason without a valid MOT is illegal. You can be fined up to £1,000.

If You Have Dangerous Defects Do not drive. The car is not roadworthy. It must be repaired on-site or transported to a garage.

Your Options After Failing

Option 1: Get It Fixed At The Same Garage The simplest option. Many garages offer MOT repairs on-site. They know exactly what's wrong and can fix it immediately.

Pros: Convenient, they already have your car Cons: Might not be the cheapest option

Option 2: Take It Somewhere Else For Repairs Get quotes from other garages. You might find better prices, especially for major work.

Pros: Could save money, choose your preferred mechanic Cons: Need to arrange transport if car has dangerous defects

Option 3: Use A Mobile Mechanic For many repairs, a mobile mechanic can come to you. They'll fix the problems wherever your car is, then you can drive back for the retest.

Pros: Convenient, often competitive pricing Cons: Not suitable for all repairs (some need a garage lift)

Option 4: Sell Or Scrap The Car If repair costs exceed the car's value, it might not be worth fixing. You can sell it as-is (buyer must know it failed) or scrap it.

Pros: Avoid expensive repairs Cons: Need to find alternative transport

The MOT Retest

After repairs, you'll need a retest. Here's how it works:

Partial Retest (Free or Cheap) If you get repairs done at the same garage and bring the car back within 10 working days, you'll usually get a free or discounted partial retest. They only check the items that failed.

Full Retest If you go elsewhere for repairs or take longer than 10 days, you'll need a full MOT again. This costs the full fee (up to £54.85 for cars).

Common MOT Failures (And Typical Repair Costs)

Lights (30% of failures) Blown bulbs, broken lenses, alignment issues. **Typical cost:** £10-50 for bulbs, £50-200 for units

Tyres (10% of failures) Worn tread, damage, incorrect pressure. **Typical cost:** £50-150 per tyre

Brakes (10% of failures) Worn pads, damaged discs, brake fluid issues. **Typical cost:** £100-400 depending on work needed

Suspension (10% of failures) Worn shock absorbers, damaged springs, bushings. **Typical cost:** £150-500+

Visibility (10% of failures) Windscreen damage, wiper issues, mirror problems. **Typical cost:** £20-400 depending on issue

Emissions (5% of failures) High emissions, exhaust problems, catalytic converter. **Typical cost:** £50-1000+ (cat replacement is expensive)

Steering (5% of failures) Worn components, excessive play. **Typical cost:** £100-400

How To Avoid Future MOT Failures

Pre-MOT Check Many garages offer a cheap pre-MOT inspection. They'll flag issues before the test so you can fix them first. No nasty surprises.

Regular Maintenance Keep up with services. Replace worn parts before they become MOT failures. Prevention is cheaper than cure.

DIY Checks Before Your MOT You can check these yourself:

Lights: Turn them all on and walk around the car Tyres: Check tread depth (1.6mm minimum) and condition Wipers: Do they clear the screen properly? Windscreen: Any chips in the driver's view? Fluids: Are levels correct? Horn: Does it work?

Book Early Book your MOT up to a month before it expires. If it fails, you have time to sort repairs without driving illegally.

How Much Should MOT Repairs Cost?

Get multiple quotes. Prices vary significantly between garages.

Check online estimates. Sites like WhoCanFixMyCar give you an idea of fair prices in your area.

Ask for itemised quotes. Know exactly what you're paying for.

Consider part quality. Cheaper parts exist but might not last as long.

Don't automatically accept garage quotes. The testing station might charge more for repairs than a local mechanic.

When To Walk Away

Sometimes the smart move is not to repair:

Calculate the total cost. Add up all required repairs plus potential advisories becoming failures soon.

Compare to car value. If repairs cost more than 50-70% of the car's value, think carefully.

Consider age and condition. An old car with one failure might be worth fixing. An old car with multiple failures probably isn't.

Factor in reliability. If this car keeps having problems, endless repairs might not make sense.

Get Help With MOT Repairs

Failed your MOT and need repairs?

The Hault app connects you with mobile mechanics who can fix many MOT failures at your location. No need to leave your car at a garage for days.

They'll assess the failure list, give you an honest quote, and get the work done so you can pass your retest.

Download Hault and get your car back on the road.