About MOTFailure.uk

Checked against the MOT inspection manual and GOV.UK guidance · Updated November 2026

MOTFailure.uk is an independent guide for drivers in England, Scotland and Wales whose car has just failed its MOT – or who want to avoid failing it. We explain the rules in plain English, in the order you need them: what the failure means, whether you can drive, how retests work, what repairs cost, and what your options are.

Where our information comes from

MOT standards are taken from the official MOT inspection manual for cars and passenger vehicles and from GOV.UK guidance published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Failure statistics are from DVSA's published MOT testing data. Repair prices are typical ranges gathered from UK independent garages and parts suppliers and will vary by car and region.

We're not part of or endorsed by the DVSA, DVLA or GOV.UK. Your MOT tester's assessment of your car always takes priority over a general guide.

Scrap quotes

When a car isn't worth repairing, we can put you in touch with a licensed buyer. Quote requests made on this site are handled by Scrap My Car, which passes them to Authorised Treatment Facilities licensed by the Environment Agency, SEPA or Natural Resources Wales. ATFs pay by bank transfer and issue a Certificate of Destruction.