MOT retest rules: free retests, partial retests and time limits
When an MOT retest is free, when a test centre can charge a partial retest fee, the 10 working day limit, and whether you can drive a car that has failed.
Updated
If a car fails its MOT, the retest can be free. Leave it at the test centre for repair and have it retested within 10 working days, and there is no fee. Take it away and bring it back to the same centre before the end of the next working day, and certain listed items are retested free. Bring it back within 10 working days and you only need a partial retest, but the centre can charge a partial retest fee. In all other cases it needs a full test at the full fee.
The retest routes at a glance
| What you do | Time limit | Retest | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leave the car at the centre for repair | Retested within 10 working days | Partial | None |
| Take it away, return to the same centre for listed items only | Before the end of the next working day | Partial | None |
| Take it away, return to the same centre | Within 10 working days | Partial | A partial retest fee may be charged |
| Any other case | After 10 working days, or a different centre | Full test | Full MOT fee |
A partial retest means the tester only rechecks the items that failed, not the whole car.
Leaving the car at the test centre
This is the simplest route. If the car stays at the test centre for repair and is retested within 10 working days, GOV.UK says there is no fee for the partial retest. It is sensible to ask for a written quote before you agree to the work. You are free to get the repair done elsewhere, but then a different rule applies.
Taking the car away and bringing it back
Back by the end of the next working day
If you take the car back to the same test centre before the end of the next working day, you do not pay again for a partial retest on a set list of items. The list on GOV.UK includes:
- lamps (excluding headlamp aim), the horn and electrical wiring
- mirrors, the windscreen glass, wipers and washers
- wheels and tyres
- seats, and seatbelts (but not their anchorages)
- doors, the bonnet, the bootlid and the tailgate
- registration plates and the vehicle identification number (VIN)
- the battery, the fuel filler cap, the steering wheel and the tyre pressure monitoring system
These are mostly quick fixes, such as a bulb, a wiper blade or a tyre. Check the full list on the GOV.UK retest page before you rely on it. Brake, suspension and most steering repairs are not on it.
Back within 10 working days
If you take the car away for repair and bring it back to the test centre within 10 working days, you only need a partial retest. The centre can charge a partial retest fee for this. GOV.UK does not publish a set figure for it, so ask the centre what it charges before you leave.
Any other case
In all other cases, such as going to a different centre or returning after 10 working days, the car needs a full MOT and you pay the full fee again. At the time of writing the maximum fee for a car is £54.85.
Can you drive a car that has failed?
GOV.UK says you can take the car away after a fail if both of these are true:
- the current MOT certificate is still valid
- no dangerous defects were listed
If the MOT has already run out, its retest guidance says you can only take the car to have the failed defects fixed or to a pre-arranged MOT test appointment. In every case the car must meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness at all times, or you can be fined.
If the result lists a dangerous defect, the car needs repairing before it is driven. GOV.UK says you can be fined up to £2,500, banned from driving and given 3 penalty points for driving a car that failed its MOT because of a dangerous problem. Our guide to driving without an MOT covers the other penalties.
If you think the fail was wrong
Do not start repairs if you want to dispute the result: GOV.UK says no repairs should be made until the appeal process has finished. Talk to the test centre first. If that does not settle it, you can appeal to DVSA within 14 working days of the test. Our guide to appealing an MOT result explains the steps.
What a retest looks like when you buy a used car
In a car's MOT history a retest shows up as a fail followed by a pass, often on the same day or a few days later. That is common, and it usually means the car was repaired and retested within the time limits above.
What matters is what failed and how it was fixed:
- Look at the items. A failed bulb or wiper blade is trivial. Failed brakes, suspension or corrosion are worth a closer look.
- Ask for the invoice. A seller should be able to show who did the repair and what was replaced.
- Watch for the same item failing again. If a part fails, passes after a quick fix, then fails again a year later, the root cause may not have been dealt with.
- Check the advisories on the pass. A pass after a retest can still carry advisories for the next problem.
Our guide on how to read MOT history has a full method. To see how often the model you are looking at fails at that age, compared with all cars, use our MOT fail rates by model.
Frequently asked questions
Is an MOT retest free?
It can be. A partial retest is free if you leave the car at the test centre for repair and it is retested within 10 working days. It is also free for a set list of items if you bring the car back to the same centre before the end of the next working day.
How long do you have to get an MOT retest?
For a partial retest at the same centre you have 10 working days. After that the car needs a full MOT at the full fee.
Can I take my car to a different garage for the retest?
Yes, but the free and partial retest rules are for taking the car back to the test centre that failed it. Anywhere else, the car needs a full MOT at the full fee.
Can I drive my car after it fails its MOT?
You can take it away if the old MOT is still valid and no dangerous defects were listed, and the car must still be roadworthy. If the MOT has expired, you can only take it to have the failed defects fixed or to a pre-arranged MOT test.