Even if its previous MOT hasn’t run out, you could still be fined if you drive your vehicle following another failed MOT.

Guidelines on Failed MOT Vehicles 

The government’s official website has been updated to clarify its guidelines on when it is acceptable to drive a vehicle following a failed MOT. Their original position was somewhat ambiguous and was surrounded by speculation, with some sites contending that motorists are well within their rights to drive a vehicle that a tester has ruled to be unroadworthy, as long as the MOT had not expired. From 2017 vehicles will require an MOT once their vehicle hits four years. Currently, vehicles require an MOT once they are three years’ old. This has been met with some critique as motoring bodies have stated that essential repair work has been unnecessarily delayed and in the long term could lead to higher costs to repair further down the line.  

This comes at around the same time as recent research revealed that almost two thirds of drivers have driven their vehicle knowing that there are faults present. Almost half of the 1000 respondents said that they ignored faults until at least three months after they appear and what is more concerning is that one in four miss their annual service. Consequentially, faults that would have initially been inexpensive to fix are now costing much more to fix.

Most motorists are aware that getting their vehicle serviced regularly helps ensure that it runs efficiently for the maximum amount of time. Not only can it help sustain the lifespan of a vehicle, but regular servicing can actually increase the resale price of your car. When you have your car valuated, factors such as when it was last serviced, and how often in accordance to the manufacturer’s guidelines will help increase resale price, more so than putting it through the car wash before it is viewed.