An MOT retest checks only the items that failed, and you may not have to pay for it if you act quickly. How much you pay depends on where the car goes after the fail and how soon it comes back.
If you have just had a fail at our MOT test at Premier Vehicle Care, or at any other garage, the next question is usually cost and time. This guide sets out the three possible outcomes, using the wording on GOV.UK, so you know what to expect from an MOT retest before you pick up the phone.
What Is an MOT Retest?
An MOT retest is a second check carried out after your car has failed because of dangerous or major defects. Its job is to prove the problem has been fixed. GOV.UK guidance on MOT retests says a retest after the original test, or initial test, can be partial or full.
Here is the simple version:
Partial retest: only the items that failed are checked again.
Full retest: the whole MOT is repeated, effectively a full MOT test when the vehicle does not qualify for a partial retest, and you pay the full fee again.
Timing decides which one you get: the rules below show how.
If you want a local garage to deal with all of this, a MOT test in Newcastle with repairs and retest under one roof keeps things simple.
The MOT Retest Rules at a Glance
The MOT retest rules come down to what you do with the car after the fail, and how quickly you return. This table sums up the GOV.UK position.
What you do | Retest type | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Leave the car at the test centre for repair and have it retested within 10 working days | Partial retest | No fee |
Take it away and bring it back to the same test centre by the end of the next working day | Free partial retest (for listed items) | Free |
Take it away and bring it back within 10 working days | If the vehicle repaired elsewhere is returned in time to the original test centre, this is a partial mot retest | You can be charged a partial retest fee |
Anything else, including returning after 10 working days | Full retest | Full MOT fee again |
GOV.UK does not give a pound figure for the partial retest fee. Test centres set it themselves, so ask the garage before you agree to anything. If you miss the deadline or use a different garage for the retest itself, you may have to pay the full mot test fee or full test fee again.
How to Get a Free MOT Retest
There are two routes to a free MOT retest. Both rely on the retest taking place at the same test centre that carried out the original test.
Route One: Leave the Car With the Garage
Leave the vehicle at the test centre that carried out the original test, as the original tester can do the work there. Any car repaired there must have the issues fixed before the retest appointment. Have it retested within 10 working days and a partial retest carries no fee.
This is the neatest option for most people. You do not have to drive a failed car anywhere, and the garage can fix and retest in one go before your next MOT appointment. If you would like to book your MOT with a garage that also carries out repairs, you can leave the car with us for repair and retest.
Route Two: Return by the End of the Next Working Day
If you take the car away, you can bring it back to the same test centre by the end of the next working day after the original failed test. GOV.UK says the retest is then a free partial retest for around 40 listed items. These include lamps, mirrors, wipers, tyres, seatbelts and doors. The MOT tester will have given you a failure report or test certificate listing the defects to be checked again.
A working day usually means a weekday, so weekends and bank holidays do not count. If you drive a failed vehicle when it is not roadworthy, your insurance may be invalid. If the fail came on a Friday, check with the garage how the next working day applies to you.
How Long Do You Have to Retest After an MOT Failure?
If you are asking about an MOT failure and how long to retest, the key deadline is 10 working days from the days of the initial failure or initial test. That is the window for a partial retest.
Here is a quick timeline:
Same day or next working day: a free partial retest if you bring the car back for listed items and have a booked MOT appointment.
Within 10 working days: a partial retest, with a fee possible if you took the car away.
After 10 working days: a full retest and the full fee.
Think about whether you can still drive the car, and where you want the repairs done. Our guide on what to do if your car fails its MOT covers getting quotes and deciding where to repair, but remember that taking the car elsewhere means giving up the free route for cars left at the test centre. If you have a current MOT certificate, you may be able to legally drive a failed vehicle only in limited circumstances, such as directly to repairs or to the next MOT appointment, provided it is roadworthy and has no dangerous faults. If your MOT certificate expires before the retest, or the certificate expires altogether, you cannot use public roads except for an eligible pre-booked test. Driving unlawfully after a failure can lead to a fixed penalty of up to £1,000. If you have failed your MOT, read that guide for the full picture of what happens next.
Which Items Does a Partial Retest Cover?
A partial retest only covers the items that failed. The tester does not repeat the whole test, which is why it is quicker and often cheaper. By contrast, minor defects do not cause a failure, but they should still be dealt with soon before they get worse.
The free next-day list covers around 40 items, such as lamps, mirrors, wipers, tyres, seatbelts and doors. Faults on a failed test can include brake pads worn below 1.5mm, tyre tread under 1.6mm, or windscreen damage that obstructs the driver’s view. If a repair affects something else on the car, the tester may need to check that part too. Ask your garage if you are unsure.
A fail on one of these items is often a quick fix. For example, after a failed test, a blown bulb or a worn wiper blade can often be fixed the same day to make the car road legal before the retest.
What Happens at a Full MOT Retest?
A full retest means the whole vehicle is checked again, just like a new MOT. If it does not qualify for a partial retest, it may need a full test or a full MOT test again. You pay the full fee again.
The maximum fee for a car is £54.85, according to the maximum MOT test fees on GOV.UK. In practice, that usually means paying the full MOT test fee again, and the MOT retest fee is normally the same as the original price. Test centres can charge less, so it is worth asking what your garage charges.
This is the outcome to avoid if you can. Missing the 10 working day window is the usual reason people end up here. Using a different garage for the retest usually means paying the full fee, and repairs must be completed before the appointment.
How to Avoid Needing an MOT Retest
The best retest is the one you never need, especially if your vehicle fails on something a quick check could have caught. A few quick checks before you arrive can prevent many fails:
Check all your lights work, including brake lights and indicators.
Look at your tyres for wear and damage, and make sure tread depth is at least 1.6mm.
Test your wipers and top up the washer fluid, and fix any windscreen damage that obstructs your view.
Sound the horn and check your warning lights.
Deal with advisories from your last MOT early.
If your car is due a service, book that first. Regular car servicing can catch wear before it turns into a fail, and suspension defects are a common reason tests are failed. It may also pick up worn brake pads below 1.5mm, which count as a major defect, before test day, and a DVSA-approved MOT centre can do both under one roof. Learn how to avoid failing in the first place with our practical checklist.
Key Takeaways
A retest only checks the items that failed, unless a full retest applies.
Leave the car at the test centre for repair and a retest within 10 working days carries no fee.
Take it away and return by the end of the next working day for a free partial retest on listed items.
Return within 10 working days and you can be charged a partial retest fee, which the test centre sets.
After 10 working days you need a full retest and the full fee.
Fixing the common failure points before your MOT helps you avoid needing a retest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a free MOT retest? A free MOT retest, or free retest, is a partial retest that carries no fee. You can get one by leaving the car at the test centre for repair and having it retested within 10 working days. You can also get one by taking it away and returning to the same test centre by the end of the next working day for items on the GOV.UK list.
How long do you have to retest after an MOT failure? You have 10 working days from the initial test for a partial retest. If you leave the car at the test centre, it is free. If you take it away, a partial retest fee may apply. After 10 working days you need a full retest and the full MOT fee.
Do you have to pay for an MOT retest? It depends on timing and where the car was. Leaving the car at the garage and retesting within 10 working days is free. Returning by the end of the next working day is free for listed items. Returning within 10 working days can mean a partial fee, and after that you pay the full fee again. Make sure the issues fixed are completed before the retest appointment, otherwise the vehicle passes outcome will not apply.
Comparing Your Options at Premier Vehicle Care
Comparing your options? Visit our MOT page to understand what Premier Vehicle Care offers, or call us on 0191 2400 700 to talk through your retest.
Useful Resources
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency appeal guidance can help if you believe a failed MOT test was incorrect; keep the MOT test certificate or refusal document, as you receive a failure report listing the defects if you want to challenge the result.
