Everything You Need to Know About MOT Retests

So your car has failed its MOT, though all is not yet lost. In fact, in some cases – aside from the work required to get the car back to a passable standard – you may not even have to pay an MOT retest fee.

Let us here at Scrap Car Comparison we take you through every step of the journey to understanding when and where you can get a re-test.

---

What is an MOT retest?

Simply put, an MOT retest is a follow up inspection of your car after a fail. Depending on what the car has failed on and the difficulty of fixing, there are 3 types of retest which could be applicable:

Same day MOT retest

A same day retest is often just a partial retest that’s minor enough to be done the same day of the initial failure. In fact, there’s even a PRS, which stands for ‘Pass, Rectified at Station’ and this a test that failed but the technician was able to quickly fix the problem without even officially concluding the test.

Partial MOT retest

A partial MOT retest can be done up to 10 days from the initial failing test, as long as you return to the same MOT test centre/garage. The failed parts will be retested, so this test won’t take too long.

Full MOT retest

A full MOT retest means starting from scratch. The whole test will be performed again and, unfortunately, you’ll have to pay in full.

Do you pay for an MOT retest?

Partial Retests

Generally speaking, partial retests (whether same day or within ten days of the first test) are free. However, garages can charge for them, up to £27.45. This is half the maximum price of a full test.

Full Retests

Fail to put your car back through for an MOT within ten days, or at the same test centre, and you’ll have to pay the original test price. This can be as high as £54.85.

---

---

What repairs allow me a free retest?

If your MOT has failed because of one of the following items and you return by the end of the next working day, you will not have to pay a partial retest fee:

• Access panels
• Battery
• Bonnet
• Boot lid
• Brake pedal anti-slip device
• Doors (including hinges, catches and pillars)
• Drop-sides
• Electrical wiring
• Fuel filler cap
• Headlamp cleaning or levelling devices
• Horn
• Lamps (excluding headlamp aim)
• Loading door
• Main beam ‘tell-tale’
• Mirrors
• Rear reflectors
• Registration plates
• Seatbelts (but not anchorages)
• Seats
• Sharp edges or projections
• Steering wheel
• Tailboard
• Tailgate
• Trailer electrical sockets
• Towbars (excluding body around anchorage points)
• Tyre pressure monitoring system
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• Windscreen glass, wipers and washers
• Wheels and tyres (excluding motorcycles and motorcycles with sidecars)

You can learn more about exactly what is checked during an MOT here.

How long do you have to retest your MOT?

You have 10 working days to get your MOT retested before having to pay for a second full MOT test. 

If you are taking your car away for repairs, you have until the end of the next working day to bring the car back to the same test centre to avoid paying for any MOT retest fees, otherwise you might incur a partial retest fee. If you leave your car at the MOT test centre for the repairs to take place then you have 10 working days to have a free partial MOT retest.

Can I drive my car while waiting for an MOT retest?

Providing your previous MOT certificate is still valid, then you can drive your vehicle away, as long as it still meets the minimum standards of roadworthiness. This means the car must have clear windows, working brakes and lights and with tyre tread no shallower than 1.6mm. You can learn how to check your tyre tread depth here.

If your MOT has run out then you are only allowed to take your vehicle away if you are taking it to have the failed elements fixed or bringing it to a prearranged MOT test appointment.

What happens if your car fails its retest?

If your car fails its MOT retest, the process begins again and you have another 10 working days before you will be required to have a full MOT test. However, do bear in mind that if there is a lot of work needing to be done to get the car back to a fully acceptable MOT, most test centres will not look too kindly on you coming in once a week to extend your retest time. It will also look pretty poor to anyone who chooses to check the vehicle’s MOT history and could negatively affect the value of your car.

Can an MOT retest be done at a different garage?

In order to get an MOT retest you must go back to the same garage that did the original test. You can take your car anywhere for the work to be carried out, but if you were to ask another garage to carry out an MOT test you would have to pay the full amount for an MOT test.

How do I book an MOT retest?

There is no specific booking process with regards to an MOT retest, you just need to ensure that you are in communication with your garage as to when you have completed the repairs to ensure that you get your retest sorted before the end of the 10 working day cut-off point. If you leave the car at the garage for the repairs, the process is a lot easier.

How long does an MOT retest take?

The length of an MOT retest will depend entirely on the amount of work that is needed to get the car back to a point where it will pass its MOT. Generally they will only check the parts of your vehicle that failed the initial MOT test, so it is a much shorter process than a full MOT.

Has your car recently failed its MOT and you’re now looking at the options of repairs and retests? If it’s looking like you’re going to be staring at a long term problem, then maybe it’s time to move on – which is where we come in! Here at Scrap Car Comparison we can make the process of scrapping your car near you as simple and stress-free as possible and we guarantee that the quote you get from us will be the best you’ll find anywhere. Why not get started using our handy online quote generator and discover just how much your scrap could be worth.

---

Or, visit our MOT failure hub for guides on everything related to MOT, and how to navigate your options after a fail.

---