MOT results, advisories and retests explained

Pass, minor, advisory, major or dangerous

Major or dangerous defects cause a failure. A pass can still include minor defects or advisories. Ask what needs fixing, what should be monitored and what the finding means for your vehicle.

Can I drive after a failure?

GOV.UK says a vehicle may be taken away when its existing MOT remains valid and no dangerous problems were listed; it must still be roadworthy. Do not treat a remaining certificate as permission to drive an unsafe vehicle. Ask about repair or recovery before leaving.

Leaving the vehicle for repair

If the vehicle stays at the test centre for repair and is retested within 10 working days, the official guidance provides for a partial retest without a fee. Confirm the arrangements with the station.

Taking it away for repairs

Returning to the same centre before the end of the next working day can qualify for a free partial retest for specified items. Other returns within 10 working days can involve a partial retest fee. Outside the applicable conditions, a full test and fee may be required. Check the official list rather than assuming every repair qualifies.

Separate repair costs from test costs

Ask for the failed items and proposed repairs to be explained individually. Confirm the repair price, any retest fee and when the work can be completed. Keep the original result, repair invoice and retest result together.

Do not lose track of advisories

An advisory is worth understanding even when it does not cause a failure. Ask what change or symptom should prompt another inspection and record the advice with your maintenance history. Do not assume an item was repaired merely because it no longer appears on a later document.

Can I drive away after a failed MOT?

Only if the current MOT remains valid, no dangerous defect was recorded and the vehicle is roadworthy. Otherwise arrange repairs or recovery before driving. An earlier certificate does not make an unsafe vehicle acceptable to use.

What is the difference between a major defect and an advisory?

Major and dangerous defects cause a failure. Minor defects and advisories can appear on a pass. Ask the tester to explain each finding and what attention it needs.

When is an MOT retest free?

Leaving the vehicle at the same station for repair and retesting within 10 working days qualifies for a free partial retest. Certain listed items also qualify when returned by the end of the next working day. Check the exact conditions with the station.

Can I get the repairs done at another garage?

Ask about safe transport and the retest arrangements before moving the vehicle. Returning to the original station within 10 working days can mean a charged partial retest; outside qualifying arrangements a full test and fee are needed.

Can I challenge my MOT result?

Use the DVSA appeal procedure promptly and avoid having the disputed defects altered first. The deadlines differ between challenging a fail and an alleged incorrect pass; check the official instructions linked here before arranging work.

Must I repair every advisory immediately?

Ask what the observation means, whether it has changed and when it should be checked again. An advisory is not a quotation or a prediction of how long a component will last.

Official guidance and further reading

• GOV.UK: MOT results (opens in a new tab or window)
• GOV.UK: retests after repairs (opens in a new tab or window)
• GOV.UK: MOT appeals (opens in a new tab or window)

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (opens in a new tab or window), where applicable.