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 retest.
My Car Failed Its MOT Test – What Do I Do Now?
Once you’ve been given the bad news, it’s important to know what happens next. The ‘normal’ next step is to have your car fixed up and retested. You can ask the same garage to do the work for you, and put the car through an MOT retest, and you won’t have to pay for the second MOT.
If you want to take the car somewhere else, you can do so under a few conditions. Your car must:
- Have not been given a ‘dangerous defect’ during its original MOT test.
- Have an existing MOT certificate that has not expired; e.g. your car fails its MOT on the 15th and your existing MOT expires on the 19th, giving you four days of legal driving.
What Will It Cost To Get My Car Through Its MOT Now?
Let’s approach this from a few different angles: how much money it’ll cost you, how much time you’ll need to spend on it, and how much effort you’ll need to put in.
How much money does a retest cost?
Usually, after an MOT fail the retest will be a ‘partial’ test. 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.
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.
Don’t forget though – you need to pay for the repairs that will get it through the retest, or it will fail again!
How long does a retest take?
The retest itself will be shorter than a full/original test and only the failed elements will be checked again. So, the actual retest won’t take long.
However, you’ll have to wait for the repair work that needs doing to be completed. This could take an hour, a day, a week… It all depends on how busy your chosen mechanic is and how easily the parts they need for the job can be acquired.
How much effort will a retest require from me?
Honestly, very little. All of the effort will be on the part of the mechanic who is fixing your car and performing the retest. The most you might need to do is get the bus for a bit, or worse… walk.
Do I Really Need An MOT Retest?
Wondering if there’s some loophole that means you can keep driving even after your car has failed its MOT test? Well, believe it or not, there is… sort of.
If your existing MOT certificate is still valid, and your recent test didn’t fail due to ‘dangerous defects,’ then you can continue driving your car – but only until the expiry date of the existing MOT.
If your MOT expires imminently, or you’re worried that it might fail its retest too, then don’t delay – get it fixed and retested so that you’ve got a fresh 12 month certificate.
What Happens If I Don’t Get My Car Retested?
What if I don’t do it straight away?
You are well within your rights to not get your car MOT retested straight away. That is, as long as your existing MOT is still valid and your original test didn’t flag up and ‘dangerous’ problems. Alternatively, you could take your car onto private land and SORN it, which means it won’t need an MOT at all (or tax & insurance, either).
What if I go somewhere else?
Not happy with the work the MOT technician has done on your car? You can take it to another garage to be retested, but you’ll have to go through a full test again – you won’t be able to get the free (or cut-price) partial test.
What if I get caught without an MOT?
Getting spotted on the road without a valid MOT means big trouble. Whether it’s the police that stop you, or you’re caught on camera by an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) device, the punishment is severe.
You can receive three penalty points on your licence and a fine of up to £1,000 or £2,500 if your car failed its MOT with dangerous defects. If you’re caught multiple times without an MOT, you won’t just be fined again – you’ll be banned from driving!
My Car Failed Its MOT Retest – What Now?
So your car has also failed its MOT the second time round. Is it game over for this vehicle, or can it still be saved?
That’s up to you, based on what your MOT technician tells you. If they tell you that your car still has significant problems that need fixing, you might be better off scrapping or salvaging it (or getting the repair work done somewhere else).
However, if it’s failed on something minor, you absolutely can have it fixed and retested again in the hopes of a ‘third time lucky’ pass.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to the cost of the work involved. You don’t want to waste money on a car that’s going to leave you out of pocket again another 12 months down the road.
How Can I Ensure My Car Passed Its MOT First Time?
Regular maintenance is the key. Servicing is best, but if that’s too expensive, looking after the vehicle yourself is also recommended. Keep all fluid levels at the ideal levels, look out and anticipate wear & tear that could develop into a fault. You can also take a look at our guide for MOT prep to ensure you’re 100% ready to take your car into the garage.
