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What Happens When My Car Fails An MOT Test?

When a would-be car owner buys a brand new vehicle, they know they will have (as things stand at the time of writing) three years of warranted, hopefully trouble-free motoring. When those three years are up however, that car is going to need a MOT test to ensure it continues to be roadworthy. All car owners know this and know they will have to take the vehicle to a government approved testing station for its annual examination and that this incurs a standard charge.

 




Why Will My Car Fail?

 

Your vehicle is a mechanical marvel but many components wear out in time. The list of items tested these days is very comprehensive; no corners are cut and it’s not just mechanical parts either; body corrosion can also be a problem if it is deemed to be in any way dangerous. Loose parts, a bumper for example, may also be enough to deliver the bad news message.

 

OK, So My Car Has Failed. Now What?

 

If a car fails its test, then the test centre and the approved engineer who carried out the work will issue a Refusal of an MOT Test Certificate. This will detail the reasons for the failure, and what needs to be done before the vehicle is considered road legal.

 



The Retest

 

A failure will mean that the car is deemed not to be roadworthy and therefore can’t be used on a public highway (going to and from a testing station is allowed). The car then requires a retest after the fault or faults is attended to. The rules for an MOT retest depend on how and where the repairs are carried out.

 

The usual practice is to leave the car at the garage for the work to be done on the same day and hopefully collect the tested vehicle late in the day or maybe the next day. This way potentially, only a partial retest will be needed although if a lot of work is carried out a full retest may be required. Under normal circumstances, a retest at the same test centre will be free.

 

If your vehicle fails but needs more extensive work carried out, but if the same day isn’t possible for whatever reason, on one or more specific components, then a partial retest can take place within ten working days of the initial failure. There may however be a charge for this.

 


If The News Is Bad

 


For more serious failures, your motor will need a full retest.

This also needs to be done within ten days of the initial failure, but at least that gives time to sort out finance and the like. Again, there might be a fee for this retest, but it depends on the test provider. Go beyond the ten day limit and it is, sad to say, back to square one and another MOT test will have to be booked and paid for.

 

Failing A Retest

 

This is a very unlikely scenario but it is conceivable if something else goes wrong. At this point it becomes illegal to drive the car anywhere and, worst case scenario, the car must be transported away at cost. Nobody wants that.

 

If you don’t agree with the test results, you can appeal. The Government website says this precisely:

 

“You can appeal against the failure if you think it’s wrong. Fill in the complaint form and send it to the DVSA within 14 working days of the test. DVSA will contact you within 5 days to discuss your appeal. If DVSA decides to recheck your vehicle, you’ll need to arrange a date and pay the full test fee again. They’ll send you an inspection report listing any vehicle defects. If your appeal is successful, you’ll be refunded the test fee”.

 

This is only mentioned here to cover all the bases but, to be frank, the likelihood of this happening is distantly remote. On-site MOT Inspectors are highly trained and are required to act fairly. To do otherwise could mean the centre loses its MOT status and also it’s reputation. Also, these days, our cars are so complex that few of us know our vehicles inside out.

 

So if the automotive world is against you then that could be your MOT day ruined. Don’t let that happen: Ask your local car servicing garage for an inspection. This especially helps if that garage is also a test centre. They will know precisely what to look for. Be happy: Get your car serviced and checked annually.

 

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