Failed Early MOT - can you still drive it?

[2cool2cool]

There have been many threads over the years, and I'm none the wiser and seeking the most up to date info. I'm in a sticky situation logistically which would be ideal if I can get an MOT test early, and still drive around for a while if it fails (PUG 306 HDI, anxious every damn test).

Hypothetical scenarios:

A) Car fails MOT 3 weeks before its expiry.

B) Car fails 2 months early - I know if it passes you don't preserve the expiry date. Not sure if this changes anything should it fail compared to hypothetical A.


DVLA info:

I'm unsure if "driving away" here only means driving home, or if I can mince about in it for the next month. My interpretation is that you cannot drive it if dangerous fail, but you can drive on a major fail depending if it still meets minimum standards for roadworthiness. Eg. a headlight problem wouldn't matter driving in the daytime.

[E63eeeeee...]

Just burn it immediately you get the results. It will save the tedium of this thread at least.

[scorcher]

It’s still mot’d until the expiry of the previous mot. Carry on and drive it unless it has dangerous faults that make it unroadworthy ( which apply at all times anyway)

[alfa-alex]

Just ask a garage to do a pre mot inspection to see if it would pass.

Though obviously that’ll cost you more money than having a punt on a test it would give you the answers you need

[ingenieur]

scorcher said:

It’s still mot’d until the expiry of the previous mot. Carry on and drive it unless it has dangerous faults that make it unroadworthy ( which apply at all times anyway)

I don't think this is right on the expiry front. Pretty sure you forfeit any remaining time on your ticket and convert any opinions of the condition of your vehicle into fact if you have a test and the vehicle is unroadworthy according to the opinion of the tester. Happy to be proved wrong as nobody likes to be penalised for being decent and getting your car MOT'ed with time to spare rather than letting it lapse a few days and getting it done late hoping nobody will notice.

[sixor8]

This comes up regularly and you are wrong. The DVLA's own website (shown above) states it as being still in date until the original expires, unless it fails on something classed as 'dangerous.'

[2cool2cool]

E63eeeeee... said:

Just burn it immediately you get the results. It will save the tedium of this thread at least.

Would be less tedious if the more intelligent were able to provide a definitive response.

[ingenieur]

sixor8 said:

This comes up regularly and you are wrong. The DVLA's own website (shown above) states it as being still in date until the original expires, unless it fails on something classed as 'dangerous.'

Oxymoron though.

Well maybe not.. this is the nuance perhaps? Does it fail if there is nothing dangerous about it? I don't think so. Therefore it has passed the MOT and the question doesn't factor?

[2cool2cool]

ingenieur said:

Oxymoron though.

Well maybe not.. this is the nuance perhaps? Does it fail if there is nothing dangerous about it? I don't think so. Therefore it has passed the MOT and the question doesn't factor?

I've failed due to a missing number plate light before...

[Super Sonic]

ingenieur said:

Oxymoron though.

Well maybe not.. this is the nuance perhaps? Does it fail if there is nothing dangerous about it? I don't think so. Therefore it has passed the MOT and the question doesn't factor?

Nope there are fails that are not dangerous.

[Dingu]

ingenieur said:

sixor8 said:

This comes up regularly and you are wrong. The DVLA's own website (shown above) states it as being still in date until the original expires, unless it fails on something classed as 'dangerous.'

Oxymoron though.

Well maybe not.. this is the nuance perhaps? Does it fail if there is nothing dangerous about it? I don't think so. Therefore it has passed the MOT and the question doesn't factor?

The MOT states the dangerous fails, it couldn’t be clearer.

[2cool2cool]

ingenieur said:

Oxymoron though.

Well maybe not.. this is the nuance perhaps? Does it fail if there is nothing dangerous about it? I don't think so. Therefore it has passed the MOT and the question doesn't factor?

I've failed due to a missing number plate light before...

[2cool2cool]

Dingu said:

The MOT states the dangerous fails, it couldn’t be clearer.

However, is my "current" MOT still valid if it has failed the new MOT on a major fault? Feel like the debate comes from the usage of ''current''.


On one side of the fence, my old pass certificate is "current" because I did not receive a new pass certificate.

On the other side of the fence, the newest MOT, pass or fail, is ''current''

Edited by 2cool2cool on Friday 30th June 22:25

[Dingu]

2cool2cool said:

Dingu said:

The MOT states the dangerous fails, it couldn’t be clearer.

However, is my current MOT still valid if it has failed on a major fault?

Yes. That’s not a dangerous fault.

ETA. https://mattersoftesting.blog.gov.uk/how-the-new-m...

[ingenieur]

So you can fail the MOT on a number plate bulb but the car will still have an MOT until the previous MOT has expired? So if you went in 3 weeks early, failed the MOT on a number plate light, you can continue driving legally until the expiry of your previous MOT?

[E63eeeeee...]

2cool2cool said:

E63eeeeee... said:

Just burn it immediately you get the results. It will save the tedium of this thread at least.

Would be less tedious if the more intelligent were able to provide a definitive response.

Trust me. I reckon we've done this thread ten times. It is no less tedious regardless of how many people give you the correct response.

[Dingu]

ingenieur said:

So you can fail the MOT on a number plate bulb but the car will still have an MOT until the previous MOT has expired? So if you went in 3 weeks early, failed the MOT on a number plate light, you can continue driving legally until the expiry of your previous MOT?

Yes.

[ingenieur]

E63eeeeee... said:

2cool2cool said:

E63eeeeee... said:

Just burn it immediately you get the results. It will save the tedium of this thread at least.

Would be less tedious if the more intelligent were able to provide a definitive response.

Trust me. I reckon we've done this thread ten times. It is no less tedious regardless of how many people give you the correct response.

Nothing compared to a 'what oil' or 'what tyres' thread though. Christ.

[ingenieur]

Dingu said:

ingenieur said:

So you can fail the MOT on a number plate bulb but the car will still have an MOT until the previous MOT has expired? So if you went in 3 weeks early, failed the MOT on a number plate light, you can continue driving legally until the expiry of your previous MOT?

Yes.

Hmmm.

[2cool2cool]

E63eeeeee... said:

Trust me. I reckon we've done this thread ten times. It is no less tedious regardless of how many people give you the correct response.

I did use the search function, but still couldn't make sense of the answers. By phrasing my questions in specific ways I could relate to my own scenario, it has helped my understanding.

Personally, I find the topic interesting. But I can see how it would be tedious to see the same question asked and debated multiple times.