Most vehicles must have an annual MOT test, unless they are exempt from needing a certificate. A vehicle is examined in accordance with a set of uniform standards during a MOT test to make sure it is safe to operate on public roads and satisfies minimum environmental requirements. As a result, to tax your car, you will typically also need a MOT. If your car has been well-maintained and has received regular servicing, it should pass its upcoming MOT without any issues. Regretfully, there are instances when an MOT inspection reveals unforeseen problems, which can result in a MOT failure.
Is it still possible for me to drive my car if it fails its MOT? Depending on the situation, you might not be allowed to park your car on a public road or even drive it to a scrapyard until you have a current MOT certificate. We’ll explain in this guide when it’s acceptable to drive a car that has failed its MOT and when it’s illegal to do so.
Can you drive your car if it fails the MOT test?
If no “dangerous” defects were found during the test and timeartup your previous MOT certificate is still valid, you can continue to drive your car even if it failed the MOT. Use our free MOT check tool and enter your car’s registration number to find out when your MOT is due.
If your car passes a MOT test but the most recent MOT certificate is still valid, you can still drive it as long as the test reveals no “dangerous” defects. Recall that if you plan to keep driving the car after the current MOT expiry, you will still need to schedule the required repairs and a new MOT test. Regardless of whether the current MOT certificate is still valid, if you drive your car after it fails an MOT with one or more “dangerous” defects, you risk receiving three penalty points on your license, a fine of up to £2,500, or even a driving ban.
Remember that even if the issues that caused you to fail your MOT aren’t considered “dangerous,” your car isn’t in the best possible condition. Thus, you might still face charges if you are stopped by the police and they find that your car is not safe to drive. Therefore, you should make arrangements as soon as possible for the necessary repairs to be made at a reputable local garage if your car fails a MOT test for any reason.
If your MOT certificate has expired recently
You cannot operate a vehicle on public roads without a valid MOT certificate if it is older than three years or does not qualify for MOT exemption.
There are two situations where you can still drive your car if you fail your MOT test on the day that your current MOT certificate is about to expire:
- You can schedule a pre-arranged MOT test for your car at a test facility.
- To have the issues indicated by your failed MOT test fixed, you can bring your car to a garage.
If you were to drive for any other reason, you would be breaking the law. When you are pulled over by the police, the officer may request documentation proving that you are operating your car for one of the legitimate purposes mentioned above.
