A GUIDE BY CANNONS AUTOMOTIVE · MORECAMBE, LANCASHIRE · UPDATED AUGUST 2026

If your car has just failed its MOT, the first question on your mind is usually simple: can I still drive it? The short answer is — it depends on what failed. Here at Cannons Automotive, we test and repair dozens of cars a month at our workshop on White Lund Industrial Estate, Morecambe, and this is one of the questions we get asked almost every single day. Here is exactly what happens next, in plain English.

Can I still drive my car home if it fails its MOT?

If your previous MOT certificate is still valid (i.e. it hasn’t expired yet), you can legally continue driving the car until that certificate runs out — even with a fail — as long as the car is not in a dangerous condition. If the fault is marked “dangerous,” you must not drive the car at all, even to get it home.

What if my MOT has already expired?

If your MOT has expired and the car failed its retest, you can only legally drive it to a pre-booked appointment at a garage for repair, or to a pre-arranged MOT test. Any other journey is illegal and could invalidate your insurance.

How long do I have to get the repairs done?

There’s no fixed legal deadline, but practically speaking, you shouldn’t be driving an MOT-failed car for long — see the rules above. Most of our Morecambe customers get repairs booked in within a few days to avoid being without a legal car.

Do I need a full retest, or just a partial one?

If you bring your car back to the same garage within 10 working days of the failed test, you’ll usually only need a free partial retest covering the items that failed — not the full test again. This is one of the reasons it’s worth getting repairs done at the garage that tested you.

What are the most common MOT failure reasons?

• Lighting and signalling (bulbs, alignment)
• Tyres (tread depth, damage, pressure)
• Brakes (pads, discs, efficiency)
• Suspension
• Wipers and washers
• Emissions

How much does it cost to fix a failed MOT?

It varies hugely depending on the fault — a bulb replacement might be £15, while brake or suspension work can run into the hundreds. We always give you a clear, itemised quote before any work starts, so there are no surprises.

Local advice from Cannons Automotive

We’ve been testing and repairing cars for Morecambe drivers for over 10 years, and we’re rated 5.0★ on Google by local customers. Whether it’s a quick bulb swap or major brake work, we’ll always explain exactly what failed and why, in plain English. See our MOT page for testing prices, or our Vehicle Repairs page for common fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive to a repair appointment if my car failed and my MOT has expired?

Yes — driving to a pre-booked repair appointment or MOT retest is one of the legal exceptions, as long as the car isn’t marked dangerous.

Will the police know my MOT has failed if they stop me?

Yes. MOT status is visible to police via ANPR cameras and roadside checks, linked to your number plate in real time.

What counts as a free retest?

Bringing the car back to the same test centre within 10 working days, with only the failed items needing to be re-checked, usually qualifies for a free partial retest.

What happens if I don’t get a retest at all?

Your car simply has no valid MOT, meaning you can’t legally drive it (except to a booked test/repair) and your insurance may be invalidated if you do.