We have collected the things you need to know about an MOT retest in this article.
What does MOT Retest Mean?
An MOT retest is a simplified test that takes place after an MOT failure. It offers a convenient and affordable solution to obtain the required pass certificate without having to redo the entire checklist. Typically, an retest MOT only examines the components of your vehicle that did not pass the initial test.
The Cost of Not Getting an MOT
MOT retest fee is a concern for many people.
The cost of an retest will depend on the circumstances of the second test. If you choose to leave your car with the original garage, they will complete the retest within 10 days. The cost for this option will depend on the repairs your car needs to pass the test. However, if you leave your vehicle at the same location, you’ll receive a MOT free retest, and you’ll only pay for any necessary repairs.
If you take your car somewhere else and return to the original garage within 10 working days, you’ll be charged for a partial MOT retest fee, which is equivalent to half of the full test fee. The maximum MOT fee in the UK is £54.85, which means a test center may only charge up to £27.43.
However, if you take your car elsewhere and return it to the original garage after 10 days, you’ll be required to undergo a full retest, which means you’ll have to pay the full amount again. This is because the garage cannot guarantee that the other parts are still in the same condition as when you first took the test.
Guidelines for MOT Retests
There are several rules that apply to the retest. Firstly, you must apply for the retest within 21 days of the original failed test. Additionally, the retest must be completed within 60 days of the initial test. It is important to get the retest done as soon as possible.
If your MOT certificate expires and you have not obtained a new one for the upcoming year, you cannot drive your vehicle. You are only entitled to one free partial retest per full examination.
While you can take your vehicle MOT services for repairs, you can only drive it there if your car is roadworthy and last year’s certificate is still valid. Otherwise, you will need to have it towed or leave it at the repair shop.
How to Obtain a Retest MOT
The MOT retest doesn’t require an official booking process. Once the necessary repairs are completed, the tester will carry out the partial MOT retest. Leaving your vehicle at the garage for repairs can simplify this process. Come to AirCool and have the retest!
Can I Schedule a Second MOT at a Different Garage?
It is mandatory to have your MOT retest conducted by the same garage that carried out the original test. While you are allowed to take your vehicle elsewhere for repairs, another garage would require you to pay the full fee for issuing the pass certificate. To benefit from the reduced or free MOT retest fee, it is advisable to leave your car at the original garage for repairs.
When Do I Need to Renew My MOT?
In the UK, any vehicle that has been registered for over three years must undergo an annual MOT. You can check the expiration date on your previous year’s MOT certificate or by using our free MOT Checker tool, which requires you to enter your vehicle registration number. It is important to schedule an MOT test and obtain a pass certificate before the expiry date.
When Must I Renew My MOT?
It is possible to book an MOT test up to one year in advance of your expiry date. Additionally, you can book a test up to 1 month minus 1 day in advance to keep the same expiry date for the following year. This allows you time to address any issues or failures identified during the MOT.
Procedures of Renewing MOT
It is possible to book an MOT test up to one year prior to your expiry date. Additionally, you can book up to one month, excluding the last day, in advance to keep the same expiry date for the following year. This provides you with enough time to handle any complications or failures that the MOT may uncover.
What fixes entitle me to a free retest?
See please:
- Access panels
- Battery
- Bonnet
- Bootlid
- Brake pedal anti-slip device
- Doors (including hinges, catches and pillars)
- Drop-sides
- Electrical wiring
- Fuel filler cap
- Headlamp cleaning or levelling devices
- Horn
- Lamps (excluding headlamp aim)
- Loading door
- Main beam ‘tell-tale’
- Mirrors
- Rear reflectors
- Registration plates
- Seatbelts (but not anchorages)
- Seats
- Sharp edges or projections
- Steering wheel
- Tailboard
- Tailgate
- Trailer electrical sockets
- Towbars (excluding body around anchorage points)
- Tyre pressure monitoring system
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Windscreen glass, wipers and washers
- Wheels and tyres (excluding motorcycles and motorcycles with sidecars)
Can I drive my vehicle while awaiting for an MOT test?
As long as your previous MOT certificate is still valid, you can drive your vehicle as long as it meets the minimum roadworthiness standards. This includes having clear windows, functioning brakes and lights, and tyres with a tread depth of at least 1.6mm.
However, if your MOT has expired, you are only permitted to drive your vehicle if you are taking it to have the failed components repaired or if you have a prearranged MOT test appointment.
What happens if your vehicle fails the retest?
If your car fails its MOT retest, the countdown begins again, and you will have another 10 working days to have the necessary repairs completed.
However, it is important to note that repeatedly extending your retest time by coming in once a week may not be viewed favorably by most test centers, particularly if significant work is required to pass the MOT. This could also reflect poorly on your MOT history and potentially decrease the value of your car.
Can a new garage do an MOT retest?
It is mandatory to have your MOT retest conducted by the same garage that carried out the original test.
How much time takes an MOT retest?
The duration of an MOT retest will vary depending on the extent of the repairs required to bring the car to a point where it can pass the MOT. Typically, the retest only covers the components that failed in the previous test, making it a much shorter process compared to a full MOT.
