MOT FAQs

Callow Car care will advise you of any repairs that are needed on your vehicle to ensure that your car passes its MOT and is deemed as ‘roadworthy’. In most cases we are able to retest your car on the same day once the repairs have been carried out.

Items that are not quite a failure, but need to be kept an eye on will be listed as ‘advisory’ items.

To check when your vehicle is due an MOT and car tax please visit: https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk.

Having an MOT is different to servicing your vehicle, servicing assesses the general mechanical condition of your vehicle.

Your MOT test doesn’t test the condition of: the engine, clutch or gearbox.

When does my car need an MOT?

Most vehicles need an MOT check and a new certificate every 12 months once they're 3 years old. Visit https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk to find out when your car needs its next test.

What is the earliest date I can get an MOT?

You can get an MOT for your vehicle up to a month (minus a day) before the MOT expires. You can find out when your MOT is due by following the link above or by looking at your previous MOT certificate.

How long does it take for an MOT?

An MOT test takes approximately one hour, but this could take longer if any repairs are need to be carried out. Please ensure you arrive 10 minutes prior to your MOT is due to take place and you can leave your car with us until it is convenient for you to collect.

What does a car MOT check?

An MOT covers a wide variety of checks to ensure your vehicle is safe and meets environmental standards. See our full MOT test checklist for further details.

How can I make sure my car passes its MOT?

Some of the most common MOT failures are small and preventable such as:

• Windscreen – is the drivers windscreen damaged and check all wipers working
• Lights – are all lights fully working
• Tyres – check tyre pressure and tread depth

Before you have your MOT you should carry out a few simple checks before you bring your car into our depot, this could save you time and money if you have to have a retest.

What should I bring with me to the MOT?

No documentation is required if your car has previously had an MOT or you have not had a change of registration plate. If this is the car’s first MOT you will need to bring a V5C certificate with you. This will also be required if your vehicle has had a change of registration plate since its last MOT.

What happens if my car fails its MOT?

In the case of your vehicle failing its MOT your car is deemed as ‘unroadworthy ‘. The necessary repairs must be carried out before the vehicle is retested. Please be aware that without a valid MOT certificate your car is illegal to drive.

A fine of up to £1,000 can be issued for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT.

Do I have to pay an MOT retest fee?

If repairs are carried out at the same test centre on the same day, or on the following day at another test centre, we'll carry out a free MOT retest.

If your car leaves our test centre and is returned to the same centre the next working day you won’t have to pay a re-test fee.

If the car returns within 10 working days, you will have to pay a partial MOT retest fee. In all other cases, the charge for a retest is the same as a full test

Can I appeal if my car fails its MOT?

To appeal against an MOT failure you will require a VT17 form from the MOT test centre. If your appeal is successful you will receive part or your entire MOT test fee back. In the meantime, you should not have a repairs carried out on your vehicle as this could affect your appeal.

All MOT tests are recorded, if a vehicle passes a VT20 pass certificate is issued, this will last for one year. If a vehicle fails an MOT a VT30 failure document is issued.