MOT Retest Rules: How Long Do You Have and Do You Pay Again?

If your car fails its MOT, you do not always need to pay for another full MOT.

Depending on where the vehicle is repaired, how quickly it is returned and what it failed on, you may qualify for a free partial retest or a reduced-fee partial retest.

What Is an MOT Retest?

An MOT retest is an examination carried out after a vehicle has failed its original MOT and the relevant defects have been repaired.

It does not necessarily mean the garage performs the entire MOT again.

If the vehicle qualifies for a partial retest, the tester normally re-examines the failed defects together with anything that may have been affected by the repairs.

For example, if repairs could have affected another testable component, the tester may need to inspect that as part of the retest as well.

Some failures can also require another brake-performance test.

How Long Do You Have for an MOT Retest?

The important period for most MOT retests is 10 working days following the day of the original test.

However, there is an important distinction:

10 working days does not automatically mean you get a free retest.

Whether you pay depends on what happens to the vehicle after it fails.

If You Leave the Car at the MOT Centre

If your vehicle:

• fails its MOT
• remains at the same vehicle testing station
• is repaired there
• is retested before the end of the 10th working day following the original test

only a partial retest is required and the MOT centre must not charge a retest fee.

The vehicle must remain at the testing station during this period.

If You Take the Car Away and Return the Next Working Day

There is another route to a free partial retest.

If you take the vehicle away for repair and return it to the same MOT test centre before the end of the next working day on which testing is carried out, you will not have to pay again if all the relevant failure items qualify under the statutory free-retest rules.

Eligible items include certain faults involving:

• battery
• bonnet
• bootlid
• doors
• electrical wiring
• fuel filler cap
• horn
• lamps, excluding headlamp aim
• mirrors
• registration plates
• certain seatbelt components
• seats
• steering wheel
• tyre pressure monitoring system
• VIN
• windscreen glass
• wipers and washers
• wheels and tyres

There are also additional items applicable to some vehicle classes.

What If You Take the Car Somewhere Else for Repair?

You do not necessarily lose the right to a partial retest simply because you take the vehicle away.

If you remove the vehicle from the MOT centre, have it repaired and return it to the same test centre before the end of the 10th working day following the original test, only a partial retest is normally required.

However, this retest does not have to be free.

The MOT test centre may charge a partial retest fee of up to half the statutory maximum MOT test fee.

This is one of the most important MOT retest rules to understand.

For more information about the normal price of the original test, see How Much Does an MOT Cost in the UK?.

Do You Have to Use the Same Garage for an MOT Retest?

The partial-retest provisions described above are based on returning the vehicle to the same vehicle testing station that carried out the original MOT.

You can choose to have repairs carried out elsewhere, but if you want to use the partial-retest rules after taking the vehicle away, it must be returned to the original MOT test centre within the applicable period.

If you decide to take the vehicle to a different MOT centre instead, you should expect it to require a new full MOT rather than relying on the original centre's partial-retest arrangement.

What Happens If You Miss the 10-Working-Day Deadline?

If the vehicle no longer qualifies for a partial retest, it will normally need another full MOT test.

The MOT centre may then charge the full applicable MOT test fee again.

That makes the retest deadline worth paying attention to, particularly if repairs are going to take several days.

What Does the Tester Check During a Partial Retest?

A partial retest focuses primarily on the defects that caused the original MOT failure.

The tester must re-examine the recorded Major and Dangerous defects and also inspect items that may have been affected by the repair work.

Depending on the original failure and repairs, this can include another brake-performance test.

The tester may also check Minor defects and advisory items recorded during the original test and mark them as repaired where appropriate.

A partial retest therefore has a narrower scope than another full MOT, but it is still a formal MOT examination.

Can a Car Fail Its MOT Retest?

Yes.

Repairing a vehicle does not guarantee that it will pass the retest.

If the tester finds that:

• an original failure has not been repaired adequately
• a relevant repaired component still does not meet the required standard
• another defect identified during the required re-examination means the vehicle does not meet the MOT standard

the vehicle can fail again.

Can You Drive a Car After It Fails Its MOT?

This is separate from the retest rules and is important.

For a broader explanation of the consequences of a failed result, read What Happens If Your Car Fails Its MOT?.

If your vehicle fails its MOT, you can take it away if:

• its existing MOT is still valid
• the failed test does not list a Dangerous defect

Even then, the vehicle must remain roadworthy.

If the existing MOT has expired, there are limited circumstances in which you may drive the vehicle, including travelling to have failed defects repaired or to a pre-arranged MOT test.

The vehicle must still meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness.

What Is a Dangerous MOT Defect?

MOT defects are classified according to their severity.

A Dangerous defect represents the most serious category and causes an MOT failure.

Examples can involve serious problems with safety-critical components such as brakes, tyres, steering or vehicle structure.

Driving a vehicle that has failed because of a Dangerous defect can result in a fine of up to £2,500, three penalty points and a possible driving ban.

If your failure certificate lists a Dangerous defect, arrange repair or recovery rather than driving the vehicle away.

You can also read our guide to MOT minor defects and defect classifications to understand how MOT severity categories differ.

What Is a Major MOT Defect?

A Major defect also causes the vehicle to fail its MOT.

Unlike a Dangerous classification, a Major defect does not automatically mean the vehicle is prohibited from being driven solely because of its MOT classification.

However, the vehicle must still be roadworthy and the rules governing its existing MOT status still apply.

The safest approach is to consider the actual defect rather than assuming every Major failure carries the same level of risk.

What Happens to Your MOT History After a Retest?

The original failed MOT does not disappear simply because the vehicle later passes.

MOT test results are recorded in the vehicle's MOT history.

You can check a vehicle's previous results using our free MOT History Checker.

This means a vehicle's history may show:

1. the original failed MOT
2. the defects responsible for the failure
3. a subsequent passing MOT after repair

This can actually be useful when assessing a used car.

A failure followed quickly by a pass can indicate that the identified defects were addressed, although the MOT history alone does not prove the quality or extent of the repairs.

Before buying, compare repeated failures, advisories and repair patterns.

Our guides to what makes a good MOT history and MOT history red flags explain what to look for.

Does an MOT Retest Remove Advisories?

Not necessarily.

MOT advisories and Minor defects do not themselves cause an MOT failure.

If they are repaired before the partial retest, the tester may record them as repaired where appropriate.

However, there is no separate retest simply to remove Minor defects or advisory items after a passing result has already been recorded.

An advisory remaining in the historical MOT record does not mean the vehicle currently has that problem.

Historic advisories remain visible in the vehicle's record even after repairs. Read How Long Do MOT Advisories Stay on Record? for more detail.

Is an MOT Retest the Same as Pass After Rectification at Station?

Not quite.

MOT testing also has a process known as Pass after Rectification at Station (PRS).

This can apply where the initial examination has been completed and defects are rectified at the testing station within the permitted process.

PRS is treated as a partial re-examination and no additional test fee can be charged for it.

It should not be confused with taking a failed vehicle away for repairs and returning several days later for a partial retest.

Example MOT Retest Scenarios

Example 1: The Garage Repairs the Car

Your car fails on Monday.

You leave it at the same MOT centre. The garage repairs the failure and completes the retest within the applicable 10-working-day period.

Result: Partial retest with no retest fee.

Example 2: You Replace a Failed Bulb

Your car fails on a qualifying lamp defect.

You take the car away, repair the problem and return to the same MOT centre before the end of the next working day.

Result: It may qualify for a free partial retest under the specified-item rules.

Example 3: Another Garage Carries Out the Repair

Your car fails and you take it elsewhere for repairs.

You return to the original MOT test centre within 10 working days.

Result: Normally a partial retest, but the MOT centre can charge a partial retest fee.

Example 4: Repairs Take Too Long

Your car fails and is taken away.

You do not return within the period required to qualify for a partial retest.

Result: A new full MOT will normally be required and the full MOT fee can be charged again.

How to Avoid Paying More Than Necessary After an MOT Failure

Before leaving the test centre, ask:

Getting those answers before deciding where to repair the vehicle can prevent confusion and unnecessary test fees.

MOT Retest FAQs

Is an MOT Retest Always Free?

No. Some partial retests are free, while others can be charged. In other circumstances, a full MOT and full test fee are required.

How Many Days Do I Have for an MOT Retest?

The main partial-retest qualification period is before the end of the 10th working day following the day of the original test.

Different conditions apply to the free next-working-day retest for specified items.

Does Saturday Count as a Working Day for an MOT Retest?

Do not calculate the deadline by simply counting calendar days. Ask the MOT test centre to confirm the final qualifying retest date for your particular test.

Can I Take My Car to Another Garage for Repairs?

Yes, subject to the vehicle being legal and roadworthy to drive or being transported there.

You can then return it to the original MOT centre within the applicable period if you want to qualify for a partial retest.

Can Another MOT Garage Do the Retest?

You can have the vehicle tested elsewhere, but the statutory partial-retest provisions discussed here depend on returning to the same vehicle testing station.

A different centre would normally carry out a full MOT.

What Happens If My Car Fails the Retest?

If the vehicle still does not meet the required MOT standard, it will fail.

Only one partial re-examination is permitted per full test.

Can I Drive Home After Failing an MOT?

Potentially, but only if the applicable legal conditions are satisfied.

You can take the vehicle away after a failure if the current MOT is still valid and no Dangerous problems were listed.

The vehicle must still be roadworthy.

Does an MOT Failure Stay on the Car's History?

Yes.

The failed result is recorded in the MOT database and remains part of the vehicle's MOT history even if it subsequently passes.

You can review previous passes, failures, advisories and recorded mileage with our free MOT History Checker.

Do MOT Advisories Need to Be Repaired for the Retest?

Advisories do not themselves cause an MOT failure.

The failures that prevent the vehicle meeting the MOT standard must be addressed. However, advisories should still be assessed and repaired where appropriate.

The Bottom Line

An MOT failure does not automatically mean paying for another full MOT.

The key rules are:

• Leave the vehicle at the same test centre: repair and retest within 10 working days can qualify for a free partial retest.
• Take it away and return by the next working day: specified failure items can qualify for a free partial retest.
• Take it away and return to the same centre within 10 working days: a partial retest is normally available, but a fee can be charged.
• Miss the partial-retest conditions: another full MOT and full test fee will normally be required.

Most importantly, do not confuse the retest rules with permission to drive a failed vehicle.

Check the defect classification, current MOT status and roadworthiness before driving away.

Check the Vehicle's MOT History

Use The Garage Locator's free MOT History Checker to review previous passes, failures, advisories and recorded mileages.

If you're buying a used car, checking the history can help you identify repeated failures, recurring advisories and mileage patterns before you make a decision.

Sources

• GOV.UK — Getting an MOT: Retest after a repair
• DVSA — MOT testing guide for test stations, Section B: Authorised examiners
• DVSA — MOT testing guide for test stations, Section L: Accounts and fees
• GOV.UK — Getting an MOT: MOT test result