Appeal an MOT test result
You can appeal an MOT test result if you think it's wrong, for example, if the vehicle failed its MOT and you think it should have passed.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
Documents
Details
Use this form to appeal to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) if your car, motorcycle or van:
- failed its MOT, and you think it should have passed
- passed its MOT, and you think it should have failed
There are different forms to appeal heavy goods vehicle (HGV) or trailer MOT test results and to appeal public service vehicle (PSV) MOT test results.
Before you appeal
Discuss the test result with the MOT centre before you appeal. They can help you understand how they assessed your vehicle to the standards in either the:
Appeal if you still think the result is wrong after talking to the MOT centre.
If you repair your vehicle before you appeal, it can affect the outcome of the appeal.
How to appeal
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Download and save the form on your computer or device.
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Fill in the appeal form and save it again.
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Email the completed form to [email protected] by the appeal deadline.
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A DVSA vehicle examiner will contact you within 5 working days to discuss your appeal. If they decide your vehicle needs to be retested, they’ll arrange a location, date and time with you.
Appeal deadlines
You need to email the form within:
- 14 working days of the test if you’re appealing against a fail
- 3 months of the test if you’re appealing against a pass and it’s a corrosion-related problem
- 28 calendar days of the test if you’re appealing against a pass and it’s any other type of problem
Send the form by post
Post the form to DVSA if you cannot email it.
DVSA
The Ellipse
Padley Road
Swansea
SA1 8AN
If you’re appealing against a fail
A DVSA vehicle examiner will carry out a full MOT test on the vehicle.
You have to pay the vehicle examiner the appeal fee before they start the test. You can pay by cash or cheque.
How much it costs
You have to pay the maximum MOT cost for your vehicle type. This is £54.85 for a car – check the maximum MOT cost for all types of vehicles.
The vehicle examiner will refund this fee if your vehicle passes.
What happens next
When the vehicle examiner has finished, they will:
- tell you if your vehicle has passed or failed the retest in its current condition
- give you a report showing any defects and advisory items they found
- add the result of the retest to the MOT history of your vehicle – the test result you appealed against will stay on the vehicle’s MOT history
- refund your appeal fee if your vehicle passed
If you’re appealing against a pass
A DVSA vehicle examiner will reinspect your vehicle.
You do not have to pay for this.
What happens next
When the vehicle examiner has finished, they will give you a report showing any defects and advisory items they found.
DVSA will not give you a new MOT test result or update the MOT history of your vehicle.
Taking things further
If your appeal is successful and you want to take further action against the MOT centre, you can:
- report them to Trading Standards through Citizens Advice
- take personal legal proceedings
- report them to the police if you have proof that the MOT tester knowingly gave the wrong result
DVSA cannot:
- tell you about any action it takes against the MOT centre
- give you engineers’ reports
- help you get a refund or compensation from the MOT centre or vehicle seller
If you’re unhappy with the appeal service from DVSA
Complain to DVSA if you’re unhappy with the service you received from them when you appealed.
Updates to this page
Published 29 July 2015Last updated 12 March 2024 + show all updates
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Added information about what DVSA cannot do if your appeal is unsuccessful.
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Updated the appeal form and the updated the guidance to make it clearer that you should not have your vehicle repaired before DVSA considers your appeal.
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Updated with the latest version of the complaint form.
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An updated version of the form has been published.
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First published.