MOT FAIL & FREE MOT RE-TESTING
What should I do if my car fails its MOT test?
Your vehicle must conform to the standards set out by the DVSA, if it does not it will fail its MOT and you'll receive a VT30 'Refusal of an MOT Test Certificate' which will break down the areas the vehicle has failed. Our mechanics can offer you advice on the best course of action, costs and time frames for fixing your vehicle ready for a re-test.
Check the list below to see if your fail qualifies for a free MOT re-test.
​
Note, without an MOT on your car you won't be able to get road tax, you will be unable to drive it, and your vehicle insurance may be invalid. All MOT re-test applications need to be made within 10 working days of the MOT fail.
.jpeg)
FREE RE-TESTING AT MATT'S MOTORS
If it can be done, have Matt's Motors fix and re-test within 10 working days for a free re-test. Alternatively, have your vehicle fixed *elsewhere making sure to return it to us within 10 working days of the original MOT failure.
Free MOT re-tests are available for fails on one or more of these test aspects:
​
-
Access panels
-
Battery
-
Bonnet
-
Boot lid
-
Brake pedal anti-slip pad
-
Doors (inc. hinges, catches and pillars)
-
Drop-sides
-
Electrical wiring
-
Fuel filler cap
-
Headlamp cleaning/levelling devices (not needing a headlamp aim check)
-
Horn
-
Lamps (excluding headlamp aim)
-
Loading door
-
Main beam ‘tell-tale’
-
Mirrors
-
Rear reflectors
-
Registration plates
-
Seatbelts (but not anchorages), seatbelt load limiter and/or pre-tensioner
-
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 motorbikes and motorbikes with a sidecar)
MOT: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What Do I Need to Bring to an MOT Test?
Taking your car for an MOT test is not difficult. You won’t need to take any details or supporting paperwork. You only need to take your vehicle to the test. Using the comprehensive DVSA database, your tester will find your car and discover all necessary details needed for the MOT.
​
​
Can I Drive to Matt's Motors Without an MOT?
While it shouldn’t be necessary if you plan properly, you can drive your vehicle to a testing centre without an MOT provided you have insurance. If you’re stopped by the police, you will have to show proof of your appointment. Regardless of your booking, however, if your vehicle is shown to be dangerous then you may still face a penalty.
It is unlawful to drive a vehicle that endangers lives. This rule applies in every case whether a car has an up-to-date MOT certificate or not.
​
For the safety of yourself and others, if your car is discovered to have a defect that is deemed dangerous by your MOT tester and fails, you should never drive it from the place of testing until the fault is fully fixed and your vehicle roadworthy once more.
​
​
Can I Drive My Car if it Fails its MOT?
We can not stop a vehicle owner from removing a car from our site if it has failed its MOT. However, if you choose to do so, you can only drive your faulty vehicle to a garage for repair but you’ll be taking the risk of facing a huge fine, points on your licence, or even a ban if caught by the police or camera units.
​
Rather than risk unnecessary lawbreaking, it’s a better idea to have your vehicle collected and taken to the garage by ourselves or a breakdown company. At your cost, get the vehicle towed and taken where the essential repairs can be taken care of. Otherwise, the cost of driving an unsafe vehicle could be very serious indeed.
​
​
Is Car Insurance Invalid Without MOT?
While it will vary depending on policy and the nature of your incident, in most cases when your MOT certificate expires, your insurance becomes invalid. If you are involved in a traffic accident, you won’t be insured by your provider, so you'll have to cover repair costs yourself.
​
Worse though, if the fault for the traffic incident falls with you, damages caused to other vehicles will also be your responsibility – which could be highly expensive. To add to this, driving without valid cover is illegal; so you could also face fines (which are unlimited), a six-to-eight-point penalty or even an outright driving ban.
​
​​
How to avoid driving without invalid MOT
Make sure your MOT is always in date by setting a reminder on your mobile or signing up with us for a free reminder, which can come to you via email or text.
For the safety of yourself and others, it is your responsibility to make sure your MOT certificate stays up-to-date.
​
You can check when your MOT is due here. All you need to do is enter your car’s registration number to access the information.
GET FREE RE-TEST AT MATT'S MOTORS
You can leave your vehicle at Matt's Motors for us to repair and retest your vehicle within ten working days. Alternatively, if you choose to *drive your vehicle, or have it towed elsewhere for repair, you will need to have it back to us within 10 working days to qualify for the re-test fee.
​
In any other circumstances the full fee is payable for an MOT re-test.
​
​
* If your current MOT certificate is still valid and your car is roadworthy, with no dangerous faults, you can drive your vehicle away to have defects rectified elsewhere. In any other circumstance your vehicle may not be driven and you may be subject to police stop, fines, vehicle impoundment, points on your license and even a court appearance.
