MOT retest rules
If your vehicle fails its MOT, you may be able to have it retested for free, for a reduced fee or only by paying the full fee again. It depends on where the repair is done and how quickly the vehicle goes back to the test centre.
MOT retest rules at a glance
| What you do | Retest | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Leave the vehicle at the test centre for repair, and it is retested within 10 working days | Partial retest | Free |
| Take it away and bring it back to the same centre before the end of the next working day, for certain items only | Partial retest | Free |
| Take it away for repair and bring it back within 10 working days | Partial retest | A partial retest fee may be charged |
| Anything else (another test centre, or after 10 working days) | Full retest | Full MOT fee |
Source: GOV.UK: retest after a repair. Check with your test centre before you leave, because practice can vary.
Items that qualify for a free next-working-day retest
If the vehicle failed only on items like these, you can take it away, fix it and bring it back to the same test centre before the end of the next working day without paying again:
- Battery
- Bonnet
- Doors
- Horn
- Mirrors
- Seat belts
- Seats
- Steering wheel
- Tyre pressure monitoring system
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Windscreen glass, wipers and washers
- Wheels and tyres (except on motorcycles and motorcycles with sidecars)
The full list on GOV.UK also covers lamps, registration plates and some items that only apply to buses and coaches. Ask the test centre to confirm which of your failure items qualify.
Can you drive your car away after a failed MOT?
Only if both of these are true:
- your current MOT certificate has not expired, and
- no dangerous problems were listed.
If the MOT has expired, you can only drive to a garage for repairs or to a pre-booked retest. In every case the vehicle must meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness. Driving with a dangerous defect can lead to a fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban and 3 penalty points.
Retests in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, retests are carried out at DVA test centres and cost £29.50 for cars and motorcycles. Book the retest through NI Direct. See our Northern Ireland MOT guide.
Tips to avoid paying for a full retest
- Ask the test centre for a repair quote before you leave. If it is fair, leaving the car there usually gives a free retest.
- For simple items like wipers, bulbs or a tyre, fix them and return the next working day.
- Keep the refusal certificate (VT30) and bring it back with the vehicle.
- Return to the same test centre. Going elsewhere means a full test.
- Count working days carefully. Weekends and bank holidays do not count.
What happens at the retest?
At a partial retest, the tester checks the items that failed. If anything else has obviously become defective in the meantime, they can record it. Once the vehicle passes, the new certificate's expiry date follows the normal rules.
After the retest, check the result has been recorded with our MOT status check.
Working days explained
Working days usually mean Monday to Friday, not counting bank holidays. If your car fails on a Thursday, the “next working day” is Friday, and 10 working days takes you to the Thursday two weeks later. Confirm the exact deadline with the test centre when you collect the refusal certificate.
Retest examples
| Situation | Likely outcome |
|---|---|
| Fails on a wiper blade, you fit a new one and return the next working day | Free partial retest |
| Fails on brakes, you leave the car for the garage to repair, retested 3 days later | Free partial retest |
| Fails on suspension, you repair it elsewhere and return to the same centre 6 working days later | Partial retest, fee may be charged |
| Fails, you repair it and take it to a different test centre | Full test, full fee |
| Fails, you return to the same centre after 3 weeks | Full test, full fee |