What it costs
Set by the government. Garages can't charge more than this — most charge less.
The four words that actually matter
Every fault on the test sheet gets one of these labels — the label decides what happens next.
Dangerous
Immediate risk. The car fails outright.
Cannot be drivenMajor
Fails the test, but still safe enough to get to a repair.
Drivable to a repairMinor
Doesn't fail the test, but it's on the record.
Car passesAdvisory
A heads-up that something's starting to wear.
Car passesWhat's actually checked
The DVSA groups the test into six areas. Tap one to see what's covered — you don't need to read all of these, just the ones you're curious about.
Interior checks seatbelts, seats, controls
Exterior checks lights, glass, bodywork
Under the bonnet fluids, structure, engine mounts
Under the vehicle suspension, steering, exhaust, brakes
Emissions exhaust smoke, CO/HC levels
Brake test performance, not just condition
Grouped for readability — the official DVSA MOT inspection manual splits these into more detailed sub-sections. See the source note below for the full manual.
Your car failed. Now what?
Whether you can drive it, and how a retest works, both come down to timing.
Leave it at the same garage
Fixed and retested within 10 working days, at the centre that tested it — free.
£0 retest feeTake it away, back by the next working day
Free, but only for a limited list of items — things like lights, wipers, mirrors, doors. Not tyres or brakes.
£0 — limited items onlyBack within 10 working days
Same test centre, within 10 working days — reduced "partial retest" fee. Miss it, and it's a full-price test again.
Reduced feeWhat if I just... drive it anyway? fines & penalties
No valid MOT at all
Applies even if the car's genuinely fine to drive — it's the certificate that's required. Usually invalidates your insurance too.
Driving with a Dangerous defect
Applies regardless of whether your old certificate has technically expired.
Worth knowing
MOT vs service — they're not the same thing
An MOT checks
- Whether the car meets the legal minimum, today
- Lights, tyres, brakes, structure, emissions, visibility
- Nothing that isn't safety-related
A service covers
- Oil and filter changes, on a schedule
- Fluid levels — coolant, brake fluid, screenwash
- Wear items before they fail an MOT
- No pass/fail — it's maintenance, not law
What actually fails cars most
Content on this page is drawn from official GOV.UK guidance on MOT testing and fees, and the DVSA's MOT inspection manual for cars and passenger vehicles, published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Independent resource — not affiliated with the DVSA, DVLA or Department for Transport. Always check GOV.UK directly for current rules, fees and your vehicle's exact requirements.