What Should I Do if My Car Fails Its MOT?
FixMyCar explains what to do if your car fails its MOT.
Book a car repair nowEllie Dyer-Brown
Tuesday August 05 2025
4 min read
While it's disappointing when you find out your car has failed its MOT, you can take some comfort in the fact that you aren’t alone. Over 35 per cent of cars fail their test first time every year.
Once you’ve got over the initial shock, what should you do next? The good news is that if your car has failed and has faults that need to be fixed, in some instances, you are allowed one free MOT retest.
How to claim a free MOT retest
There are currently two sets of circumstances in which your car can be re-tested for free in the UK, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Authority (DVSA):
If your car fails its MOT and is left at the testing station for repair and re-test.
If your car fails its MOT for a specific reason (such as bonnet, brake pedal, doors, fuel cap, hazard warning lights, horn, lamps, mirror, registration plates, steering wheel and tyres) but is returned for its re-test by the end of the next working day.
Can I drive my car if it’s failed its MOT?
Any faults detected by the tester during the MOT are categorised as either ‘dangerous’, ‘major’ or ‘minor’. Anything classed as ‘dangerous’ means you must not drive your vehicle until it is repaired at the same garage (or you can have it towed to another garage of your choosing). With any ‘major’ faults, you are allowed to drive to a different garage if you would prefer to have the issues resolved elsewhere before your re-test.
It is advisable to book your MOT well before your old one runs out to avoid falling foul of the authorities. Don’t forget that you can book your test up to 28 days in advance. This gives you plenty of time to make any repairs if you do happen to fail.
However, if you are caught still driving an unroadworthy car by the police without a pre-arranged follow-up MOT test, you could receive a fine of up to £2,500, invalidate your car insurance, and receive points on your driving license.
What happens if I miss my MOT?
You could be fined up to £1,000 for driving without a valid MOT. To avoid this happening, FixMyCar has launched a dedicated free MOT reminder check.
The complimentary service allows you to check when their MOT is due in less than 20 seconds and set up reminders in advance of that date.
The free MOT checker also gives you the opportunity to compare MOT prices from garages in your area and book an MOT a month before your car's test date.
Can I appeal a failed MOT test?
If you believe that your failed MOT test was incorrect, you have the right to appeal your decision. To do so, go to the DVSA within 14 days of your original test. They will then contact you to discuss your appeal and may even offer you an appointment to re-examine your vehicle. Please don’t have any repairs carried out on your car during the appeal process as it must be in the same condition it was tested.
How much is an MOT?
The average cost of an MOT across all manufacturers according to the latest data from FixMyCar is £46.93.
How to improve your chances of passing your MOT
According to the DVSA, the agency that oversees the MOT, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment are the biggest causes of MOT failure, closely followed by suspension problems.
Carrying out basic vehicle maintenance health checks prior to your MOT is one way of improving your chances of passing. For instance, check all the internal and external lights are working (including indicators). If you are struggling, get a member of your family or a friend to help out.
This guide discusses common MOT fails and how to avoid them.
Another practical test is to place a 20p coin into the tyre tread grooves, and if you can't see the coin's outer band, then you are above the legal tread limit of 1.6mm. And, last but by no means least, top up your fluid levels where necessary as this can make all the difference. The same applies to engine oil.
If you found this guide helpful, you might also like:
- Related topics:
- Car Ownership
- Mot
- Pre Mot Check
- Servicing And Mot
Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Manager. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers that is easy understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.