If your MOT isn’t current, you can’t drive. However, what occurs if your vehicle fails its MOT? The degree of flaws, the number of repairs you must schedule, the interval between your prior and current Car Repair Wrexham, and a few other variables all play a role.
Fear not—everything you require to understand a failed MOT will be covered in detail in this article.
What does a failed MOT mean?
A series of MOT checks will be performed by the inspector in order to declare your car safe and roadworthy. They can also find certain flaws at any point, ranging from the smallest to the biggest. Let’s examine the classifications.
Minor flaws
Minor flaws are not significant enough to cause you to fail a MOT test. They are said to have no appreciable effect on the environment or the vehicle’s safety. You will still pass even though they come with a warning to “repair as soon as possible.”
Components with minor defects typically only sustain minor damage while continuing to function as intended. Some instances are:
- The rear registration plate lamp is not working.
- Tiny things that obstruct the driver’s view
- Corrosion affecting just one part
- Tyres with little tread
- Minor deterioration of the brake hose
Major flaws
Major defects are those that are severe enough to have an adverse effect on the environment, compromise the vehicle’s safety, or, in the worst-case scenario, endanger other road users. These problems result in a MOT failure and are tagged as “repair it immediately.”
The car is technically in “drivable” condition, but until all significant issues are resolved, you won’t pass a retest.
Here are a few instances of significant errors:
- a significant shock absorber fluid leak
- Unsecured exhaust mechanism
- Brakes grinding or squeaking
- Headlights and taillights
- severe rusting on a number of parts
Dangerous flaws
There is a direct and immediate risk to road safety as well as a significant environmental impact when there are dangerous flaws. In the event that the inspector finds a potentially dangerous defect, the test will be immediately deemed failed, and you will be advised to “Do not drive the vehicle until it’s been repaired.”
After then, it is deemed that your car is dangerous and requires repairs. Nevertheless, you won’t be able to take the vehicle to another garage.
Dangerous defect notices can look like this:
- broken wheel on the road
- Brake pad or lining that is more than 1.5 mm worn
- steering wheel that is so loose that it could come loose
- Tyre disconnection
- Absence of brake discs
If my MOT fails, do I still need to pay for it?
Regardless of the result, you will be responsible for the entire MOT cost for the initial inspection. Tests are typically conducted without charge in advance. The cost is case-specific and mostly dependent on the centre.
For the tests after that, there are a few situations in which you might be eligible for a discount:
- You will receive a discount if you leave the car at the MOT test centre and the repairs are finished in less than ten days.
- You will also receive a discount if you take the car to another garage and they finish the repairs in less than ten days.
- If the vehicle is taken to a different garage and all problems are resolved, you receive a discount and are eligible for a free retest.
Do I have to pay for another MOT if it fails?
Indeed, even if the inspector declares it to be a MOT failure, you will still need to pay for a retest. It is available for a lower cost, as was previously mentioned.
Not to mention, even if your mechanic finishes the repairs in a single day, you are only eligible for one retest.
What if you don’t pass your MOT?
The test centre will issue a VT30, which is a refusal of the MOT certificate, if your car fails the test. Please take care not to misplace or damage this document, as it will list all of the flaws and defects.
These are your choices, some of which you may be familiar with already:
- If you believe the MOT was not conducted correctly, you can appeal a failed result. Leave the car at the MOT centre so that it can be fixed.
- Return it in a single working day.
- Return it within ten business days.
- You will provide instructions for scheduling a retest after a MOT failure below. Prior to scheduling a retest, you must address every issue listed on the VT30.
How can I check the status of my MOT?
You have to enter your car registration details on the government website in order to find out if a vehicle has a MOT certificate and when it expires. Viewing the issues found during the most recent MOT and additional pertinent data about your vehicle’s past will be possible.
To check the MOT status, you do not need to be the owner. As long as you are aware of the registration information, you can perform the check when purchasing a used vehicle.
