The tester found no faults and your vehicle is safe to drive. Regular servicing and maintenance give you the best chance of a pass with no defects.
MOT pass with advisories or minor defects
An advisory is a warning. It's not an immediate risk, but you should keep an eye on it and get it repaired when needed. For example, 'brake pads slightly worn'.
A minor defect isn't serious enough to fail the test, but you should get it repaired as soon as possible. Minor defects can't fail your MOT, however many there are. Examples include 'defective wiper blades' or 'brake fluid below minimum mark'.
MOT fail with major or dangerous defects
If the tester finds one or more major or dangerous faults, your vehicle fails its MOT.
Major faults
A major fault could become dangerous or harm the environment if it isn't repaired. Your vehicle fails, but you can take it to a different garage for repairs. Examples include 'a headlamp is likely to become detached' or 'brake fluid is significantly below minimum mark'.
Dangerous faults
A dangerous fault is an immediate risk to road safety or has a serious impact on the environment. Your vehicle can't be driven on the road until it's repaired. For example, if the bonnet could open by itself or a shock absorber is likely to come loose, the tester will stop the test straight away and your vehicle will fail.
If your vehicle fails, you'll get an MOT refusal certificate, also known as a VT30.
Book your next MOT in Caura
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MOT results FAQs
What are the most common MOT faults?
- Lights, reflectors or electrical equipment: if an engine warning light shows during the test, your vehicle will fail
- Suspension: if it doesn't handle bumps well and makes a banging or knocking sound, your vehicle will fail
- Brakes: brake pads below 1.5mm will fail
- Tyres: tread below 1.6mm will fail. It can also get you a £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points if you're stopped by the police
- Windscreen and wipers: it's illegal to drive with a cracked or chipped windscreen that blocks your view of the road. Torn or damaged wipers can fail too, especially if they leave a smear that blocks your view
- Body and structure: sharp edges or loose parts like bumpers will fail
- Exhaust system: a noisy or loose exhaust can fail. There should be no corrosion or missing silencers
- Steering: if the power steering fluid isn't above the MIN mark, your vehicle will fail
- Seatbelts and airbags: seatbelts must work. Missing airbags or an airbag warning light can also cause a fail
- Registration plate: significant damage to the front or rear plate, or a faulty plate light, will fail
What happens if you fail an MOT?
You'll get an MOT refusal certificate, also known as a VT30. The result is recorded in the MOT database. You then have three options:
- Appeal the result if you think it's wrong. Don't make any repairs during the appeal
- Leave your vehicle at the test centre for repairs and a retest. If the repairs are done within 10 working days, you could get a free or cheaper retest at the same centre
- Take your vehicle away for repairs and get a retest once they're done
What happens if you drive without an MOT?
Driving without a valid MOT is illegal. If you're caught, you could face:
- A fine: if the police stop you and you don't have a valid MOT
- Penalty points: depending on the condition of your vehicle
- Insurance problems: driving without a valid MOT could affect your insurance, so you may not be able to claim if you have an accident
- Vehicle seizure: the police can seize a vehicle driven without a valid MOT. You'd have to pay a fee to get it back
How can I avoid failing an MOT?
Research by the SMMT shows around 1.5 million vehicles in the UK fail their MOT for easily avoidable reasons, like faulty bulbs or an empty windscreen washer bottle.
Follow our simple MOT checklist to cut the risk of a fail. Some checks take less than 10 seconds, so they're well worth doing before your MOT.
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