What is a partial MOT retest?
A partial retest is a shorter re-check of only the items your car failed on, rather than a whole new MOT. It can be free if you leave the car at the same test centre and it is repaired within 10 working days, or if you bring it back by the end of the next working day for certain minor items. Any other situation usually means paying the full fee again.
Failing an MOT is frustrating, but it does not always mean paying for a whole new test. In many cases you are entitled to a partial retest, which re-checks only the items your car failed on. Depending on how quickly the car is repaired, that retest can be free, a reduced fee, or occasionally the full fee. Knowing the rules can save you the price of a second MOT.
What is a partial retest?
When your car fails, the tester records exactly which items did not meet the standard. A partial retest looks only at those recorded items, rather than inspecting the entire car again from scratch. Because it is a shorter check, it can be offered free or at a reduced rate, provided you meet the timing and location rules. If your car passes, you get a full MOT certificate just as you would after passing first time.
When is the retest free?
There are two ways to get a partial retest with no fee. The first is to leave the vehicle at the test centre for repair and have it retested within 10 working days of the original test. The second is to take the car away, then bring it back to the same centre by the end of the next working day, as long as it failed only on certain minor items.
That short list of items covers things you can often sort out quickly. It includes parts such as lamps, the horn, mirrors, wipers, the fuel filler cap, seatbelts, doors, the bonnet or bootlid, number plates, wheels and tyres. If your car failed on one of these and nothing else, and it is back the next working day, the retest should not cost you anything.
When is there a reduced fee?
If you take the car away for repairs and bring it back within 10 working days, but the situation does not qualify for a free retest, you can be charged a partial retest fee. This is only part of the full MOT price, so it is still cheaper than a brand new test. It typically applies when the repair involves items outside the free next-day list, or when the work takes longer than a day but is still finished inside the 10 working day window.
When do you pay the full fee again?
In every other case you pay for a full retest, which is effectively a new MOT at the standard price. That includes taking the car to a different garage, or bringing it back to the same garage after the 10 working day window has closed. This is why the timing and the choice of garage matter so much. For the current price of that full test, see our guide on how much an MOT should cost.
| Your situation | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Car left at the same centre, retested within 10 working days | Free |
| Back at the same centre by the next working day, listed item only | Free |
| Back at the same centre within 10 working days, other repairs | Reduced partial fee |
| Different garage, or after 10 working days | Full MOT fee |
Why the same test centre matters so much
The free and reduced partial retest rates only apply at the same test centre that failed your car. That centre already holds the record of what failed, so it can carry out a focused re-check rather than a fresh full inspection. The moment you take the car to a different garage, that history does not travel with it, and the new garage has to start again with a complete MOT at the full price. So even if a rival garage is a little cheaper on a standard MOT, going back to the original centre for a partial retest is almost always the better value.
How to avoid paying for a second full test
The simplest rule is to keep the work at the same test centre and act fast. If the fault is something the garage can fix on the spot, ask them to repair it and retest while the car is still there. If you need to take the car away, agree a return date inside the 10 working day window before you leave, and get the deadline in writing so there is no confusion. It also helps to ask the garage, at the point of failure, which category your retest falls into, free, reduced or full, so there are no surprises on the bill. Keep the refusal document that lists the failed items too, as it is your record of exactly what needs putting right.
It also helps to understand why the car failed in the first place. Many failures come down to small, avoidable items, and our guide on why cars fail their MOT explains the common ones. A little preparation before the test, covered in our advice on how to prepare for your MOT, can stop a fail happening at all.
A quick word on driving in the meantime
Be careful about driving a car that has failed. If your previous MOT has expired, or the car has a dangerous fault, driving it can be illegal even to reach a repair. Our guide on whether you can drive without an MOT sets out exactly when you can and cannot use the car, including the narrow exception for driving to a pre-booked test or repair.
Get the timing and the garage right, and a failed MOT need not cost you a second full test. Confirm the retest terms with the centre before you leave, and keep the repair within the 10 working day window.
Key takeaways
- A partial retest re-checks only the failed items, not the whole car.
- It is free if you leave the car at the same centre and it is fixed within 10 working days.
- It is also free if you return by the end of the next working day for certain listed items.
- A reduced fee applies if you bring the car back within 10 working days for other repairs.
- Using a different garage, or waiting past 10 working days, means paying the full MOT fee again.
Frequently asked questions
Is an MOT retest always free?
No. A retest is only free in specific cases: if you leave the car at the same test centre and it is retested within 10 working days, or if you bring it back by the end of the next working day and it failed only on certain listed items such as a lamp, a wiper or a number plate. Outside those situations you either pay a reduced partial retest fee or the full fee again.
How long do I have to get the retest done?
The key window is 10 working days from the original test. Keep the car at the same garage and have it repaired and retested inside that window and the partial retest is free. Take it away and bring it back within 10 working days and a reduced fee may apply. After 10 working days you need a full new test.
Does a partial retest give me a full MOT certificate?
Yes. If your car passes the partial retest, it receives a full MOT certificate valid for the usual period, exactly as it would after passing first time. The retest simply confirms the failed items have been put right.
Can I use a different garage for the retest?
You can, but you lose the free or reduced partial retest. The free and reduced rates only apply at the same test centre that failed the car. Take the car elsewhere and that garage will charge you for a fresh, full MOT.
What counts as a working day?
Working days are Monday to Friday and do not include weekends or bank holidays. So a car that fails on a Friday still has its next working day fall on the following Monday. If in doubt, ask the test centre to confirm your deadline when you book the repair.