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If your car fails its
MOT, whether you can drive it depends on the type of fault and whether your current MOT certificate is still valid.
If the vehicle has no dangerous faults and your previous MOT hasn’t expired, you’re allowed to drive it – but only until the expiry date on the current certificate.
However, if the MOT test records a dangerous fault, you legally cannot drive the car at all, even if the old certificate is still valid.
If your MOT has already expired, the only time you can drive the vehicle is to a pre-booked MOT retest or to a garage for repairs.
Driving at any other time is illegal and could lead to fines, penalty points, and even invalidate your insurance.
To avoid any issues, it’s best to get faults repaired as soon as possible and book a retest straight away.