While no driver wants to fail the MOT, it’s more common than you may think. Of 36.9 million MOT tests carried out last year, 6.82 million vehicles failed their MOT.
The Ministry of Transport (MOT) test is designed to examine the overall road safety of vehicles over three years old. According to the law, all drivers need to ensure their car has a valid MOT every year.
Having your car fail its MOT can be incredibly annoying, but if you’ve followed our MOT tips, you’ll likely have a stress-free inspection.
But what if your car has failed its MOT? What do you do then?
While no driver wants to find themselves in this situation, failing your MOT is a real possibility you need to think about. More importantly, you need to understand what your options are if your car fails its MOT.
In this article, we’ve put together all the information you need to make the right decisions if your car fails its MOT.
What Is an MOT Failure?
During your MOT test, various parts of your car, such as your brakes, lights, tyres, and suspension systems, are inspected to see if they meet safety and environmental standards.
If it’s your first MOT test, you may be wondering, is failing an MOT bad?
It certainly is. When your car fails its MOT, it means that the tester found a ‘major’ or ‘dangerous’ problem with your vehicle.
Having significant issues with any part of your car may cause you to fail your MOT, as these issues could put yourself and other pedestrians and drivers at risk. These issues will then have to be repaired and retested for your car to be deemed legal to drive.
At In Town Automotive, we not only conduct MOT tests but also carry out car servicing and maintenance to ensure you pass. Contact us to book your appointment now.
How To Find Out if Your Car Fails Its MOT
If your car has failed its MOT, you’ll be contacted by the test centre. When you return to the centre, you’ll be issued a VT30 (Refusal of an MOT Test certificate). This certificate will outline your car’s details and MOT test number, as well as the reason for its failure. Keep this document safe as you’ll need it for the following steps.
Taking an MOT Retest
If your car fails its MOT, you can take a retest as long as you address the repairs that need to be done.
After receiving your VT30, you can choose to address the repairs then and there or take your car away for the repairs to be fixed. If you choose to take your car away to be repaired elsewhere, you’ll have to be sure to address all the relevant repairs within two to 10 working days. You’ll also need to bring your car back to the original testing centre for a partial retest.
If the repairs to your vehicle take more than 10 days to fix, you’ll be charged for a full MOT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Failing your MOT test can be a very inconvenient and frustrating experience. Let’s take a closer look at some frequently asked questions so that you can understand the process better and know what to expect.
1) What Are MOT Defect Categories?
Typically, MOT defects are classified into three categories: dangerous, major, or minor.
Dangerous defects mean that your car is not roadworthy and will result in a test failure. With dangerous defects, you’ll need to repair your car before driving it again as it’s illegal to drive vehicles that aren’t roadworthy, even to or from an MOT test.
Major defects will also lead to your vehicle failing its MOT. However, they don’t mean that your car is unroadworthy. If your current MOT certificate is still valid and no dangerous defects are present, you’re allowed to drive your car away to get it repaired.
Minor defects are the least severe and won’t cause your vehicle to fail its MOT, but still need to be repaired as soon as possible.
2) Can You Drive If Your Car Fails its MOT?
No, it’s illegal to drive without a valid MOT. If your car fails its MOT, and the date on your certificate has passed, you’ll only be able to drive your car to be repaired or to a pre-arranged MOT appointment.
Driving in a car that has failed its MOT is dangerous and could result in fines or other legal action. Many MOT failures can be avoided with regular car servicing and maintenance.
At In Town Automotive, our experienced technicians have the knowledge and expertise to effectively service your vehicles and keep them in pristine condition. Contact us to book an appointment today.
3) Can I Appeal if My Vehicle Fails the MOT?
If you believe that your car has unfairly failed its MOT and want to appeal the decision, you’ll first need to chat with your MOT test centre. The rules and regulations followed by the MOT tester are straightforward, so any issues are likely due to a communication breakdown.
If you still feel the decision was wrong, you can appeal the MOT test result. If you choose to file an appeal, you’ll need to keep your car in the same condition as when it was tested. Don’t modify or repair it, as that will lead to the cancellation of your appeal.
The appeal process isn’t free, and you’ll be required to pay for another MOT test. However, if your appeal is successful, you’ll receive a full or partial refund of the MOT fee.
Choose In Town Automotive For Excellent Car Maintenance Services
While failing your MOT may feel frustrating, it’s nothing to panic about. There are steps you can take after the MOT failure to rectify the situation and receive your MOT certificate.
At In Town Automotive, we offer car repair and maintenance services to keep your car operating smoothly. We also offer MOT services to ensure your vehicle is legal to drive on the road. From repairing brakes, air conditioning, tyres, exhausts and turbo replacements, our professional garage is here to help.
At our award-winning garage in Northampton, our skilled technicians provide exceptional service to improve the performance of your vehicle.
To learn more about us, visit our services page or contact us to book an appointment today.
bookings@intownautomotive.co.uk