Dosh dilemma – My car was running fine, but failed its MOT – do I have grounds to contest it?

Emma reached out to us with a car dilemma. Her 2021 Ford Fiesta was running perfectly and was due its MOT. Having just moved to a new area, Emma didn’t have a trusted mechanic, so she took it to the closest one.

A couple of hours later, she was shocked to get a call saying her car had failed. The garage listed a number of repairs, including faulty headlights, unresponsive brakes and excessive emissions. She was quoted £720 to fix everything and pass the MOT.

"But it was running fine," Emma protested, telling the mechanic she was going to get a second opinion.

Now, she’s wondering: what are her rights?

Great question, Emma. While most mechanics are honest, there are some ‘bad apples’ out there and that can leave us all feeling a little suspicious.

As the RAC points out, some garages will chance their luck in claiming ‘extra’ repairs are required to pass an MOT test when they're not.

There might be genuine issues with your car, even if it seemed to be running fine, but in your case, the list of problems does sound excessive and a bit suspicious.

Here’s what you can do:

Appeal the test result

You have the right to appeal an MOT result with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) if:

• your car failed the MOT
• your car passed, but you think it should have failed

The government website advises not to get anything repaired until the appeal process is complete.

Talk to the mechanic about the issues. Get them to explain in detail what’s wrong.

You should also review the VT30 MOT failure report from your testing centre to see exactly what failed.

For a second opinion, consult with a qualified mechanic. The Motor Ombudsman provides a directory of accredited and recommended garages that provide car servicing, repairs and MOTs.

You can also check the DVSA’s MOT testing guidelines to see if the failure claims make sense.

Appeal the MOT fail

If you believe the fail is wrong, fill in the MOT complaint form and send it to DVSA within 14 working days of the test taking place.

The DVSA will contact you within 5 days to discuss your appeal. If they decide to recheck your vehicle, you’ll need to arrange a date and pay the full test fee again.

If your appeal is successful, you’ll be refunded the test fee.

What if you suspect your MOT certificate isn’t genuine

You can check that your MOT certificate is genuine by checking its MOT status.

Tips to avoid ‘rogue’ mechanics

• Find a trustworthy garage: always go to one that’s been recommended by people you trust. Or, if you’re new to an area like Emma and don’t know any local garages, check the RAC’s network of approved garages simply by entering your location.
• Consider a council-run MOT test centre: these centres don’t do repairs, so there’s less incentive to rip you off on unnecessary fixes.

• Check the cost of parts: when you get an itemised quote for the repairs, check the prices of any replacement parts. If something seems overpriced, compare it with online prices or call the dealer to see if it’s reasonable.

A garage is well within its rights to charge you more for a part than you can buy off the internet, but if they overcharge you for parts and labour, then it might be a good idea to look somewhere else.

If you’re unhappy with your MOT service

If you’re not happy with your MOT service, contact DVSA for advice.

We hope this helps Emma and good luck with your MOT.