Can I drive my vehicle if it fails its MOT?
Last updated on the 19th January 2026
There are strict rules around this. If your vehicle fails its MOT with a ‘major’ or ‘dangerous’ problem, you can’t drive it under any circumstances until the issues are repaired. Driving a vehicle that’s failed its MOT due to a fault classed as ‘dangerous’ risks a driving ban, three penalty points and a £2,500 fine.
If your vehicle has failed due to a minor issue but the existing MOT is still valid and hasn’t expired - you might have booked the test a few weeks early - you can still drive it. But, when the MOT expires you can only drive the vehicle directly to a garage for repairs and a re-test.
The bottom line is that if your car or van fails its MOT, you should get the repairs completed immediately or as quickly as possible.