MOT
Should You Buy a Car With a Failed MOT History?
Seeing a long list of red 'FAIL' notices on a car's history can be scary. But understanding what failed is more important than the failure itself. Some issues are trivial, while others indicate serious neglect.
1. The Minor Nuisances
The most common reasons for MOT failure are blown bulbs, empty windscreen washer fluid, and worn wiper blades. If a car failed on these, it just means the owner was lazy and didn't prep the car for the test. It's not a mechanical red flag.
2. The 'Wear and Tear' Failures
Failures for worn brake pads, bald tyres, or a blowing exhaust happen to every car eventually. If these are followed immediately by a 'PASS' the next day, it shows the owner paid to have the required maintenance done.
3. The Dealbreakers
Repeated failures for emissions, significant structural rust, or complex electrical issues (like SRS/Airbag warning lights) are major red flags. These issues are often incredibly expensive to diagnose and fix properly, leading sellers to 'patch' them just enough to pass.
4. Dangerous Defects
Since 2018, defects are categorized. If you see a 'Dangerous' defect (e.g., 'brake pipe leaking'), the car was not even legally allowed to be driven away from the test centre. Ensure you have proof from a garage that this was professionally repaired.
Check a vehicle's failure history
Use Kermo to turn the information in this guide into a practical vehicle or fuel check.
Check a vehicle's failure history