What happens if my car fails its MOT?
Last updated on the 19th January 2026
During an MOT inspection, any issues found on your vehicle are classified as minor, major or dangerous. Major and dangerous defects automatically lead to an MOT failure. Minor issues won’t cause a fail, but they will be listed on your MOT certificate as advisories, and it’s up to you to keep an eye on them and arrange repairs when needed.
If your vehicle fails its MOT, you shouldn’t continue driving it. Using a car that has failed due to a dangerous defect can lead to a fine of up to £2,500, three penalty points and even a driving ban.
When a car fails because of major faults, those problems must be fixed before you can legally drive it again. You are, however, allowed to drive the vehicle to a garage for the necessary repairs. If you took the MOT early and your current certificate is still valid, you can continue driving in the meantime - but the faults still need to be repaired and the car must pass a retest to obtain a new certificate.
If the failure is due to dangerous defects, the vehicle cannot be driven at all until the issues are resolved. Once your existing MOT certificate expires, you’ll need a new pass certificate before the car is considered roadworthy or legal to use.