Let’s walk through a hypothetical MOT situation. It’s only theoretical, but it’s something we see day in and day out here at Sunset VW.
You bring your ten-year-old VW Golf in for its MOT. Everything seems fine. But once we get it up on the ramp, the inspector notices a severely deteriorated wheel bearing and structural rust on the front axle.
Unfortunately, that means it will fail. But now what?
We’ll walk you through what happens next and how we get your VW, Audi, Seat or Škoda safely back on the road around Derby.
What to do straight away when your VW fails
Let’s continue with our hypothetical (yet very real) scenario. Once the inspector confirms those problems with the wheel bearing and the axle, they’ll note it down on their inspection sheet. They’ll then continue the MOT, checking and assessing all the usual components, such as lights, interior, brakes, suspension and emissions.
Next, they’ll log back into their MOT inspector account and record the test results. In this case, both the wheel bearing and the severe axle rust count as ‘major’ faults. The presence of any ‘dangerous’ or ‘major’ faults automatically means your car has failed its MOT.
What you can do next depends on the reason for failure. If your Golf has a ‘major’ failure, it’s still failed its new MOT, but you can drive it until the old one expires. If your Golf’s problem is listed as ‘dangerous’, it’s too dangerous to be on the road. It must be fixed in-house, towed to a separate place of work, or scrapped.
And if your MOT lists multiple faults, the ‘worst’ one counts here. For example, if you have five ‘minor’ faults, two ‘major’ faults, and one ‘dangerous’ fault, the car still counts as ‘dangerous’ and isn’t allowed to be driven on the road at all.
The best course of action in these cases is to leave your car with us. Local residents come to us because they trust us to perform honest, reliable work. We’ll never charge you for anything you don’t need. We’ll sort the repairs and schedule a retest.
You can always check the MOT status of any car at any time using the Government’s free online tool.
Why VWs often fail and how we sort them
Several common weaknesses in VW models often trigger MOT failures. We see them frequently in the Golf, Tiguan and Polo, because these are the most common on British roads. Here are a few to know about:
- Emissions faults – a high CO² reading often indicates a faulty oxygen sensor (also known as ‘lambda’ sensors).
- Misfires and ignition faults – worn spark plugs or coils trigger P030 misfire codes, especially common on 2.0 TSI engines.
- Electrical and battery glitches – a failing battery can cause dashboard warning lights, ABS errors or infotainment system failure.
- ABS module faults – older VWs sometimes need a module rebuild or sensor replacement.
You’ll get a clear failure list showing dangerous, major or minor advisories. We’ll provide a quote for each repair, so you can see exactly what’s needed, including parts, labour and warranty implications. We always discuss the urgency of your minor defects and offer advice on how soon you’ll need to get them fixed.
How retests and appeals work for your VW
After we fix the faults, our DVSA‑registered MOT tester books a retest.
We offer a complimentary same-day retest if you leave your car with us. If you take it away but return it the next working day, minor items get a free retest.
Since we’ve carried out the repairs ourselves, your car shouldn’t fail its retest. We always conduct repairs to standards above and beyond MOT requirements. Plus, the retest involves only the ‘failed’ parts of the test. For example, if we were to retest the Golf from the introduction, we’d only need to inspect the wheel bearing and axle. Everything else has already been inspected and deemed safe for the road.
Now, appeals. Did you receive a result from another MOT station that doesn’t seem quite right? You’ve got up to 14 days to appeal using the DVSA’s VT17 form, and we’re happy to guide you through it. Just hold off on any repairs. Your car needs to stay in the same condition for the DVSA to carry out a fair reinspection. Once your form’s in, they’ll usually be in touch within five working days to book an independent check at a separate test site. If they agree the result was unfair, they’ll:
- Overturn the original failure
- Issue a pass certificate
- Potentially take enforcement action against the test station
If they uphold the failure:
- You’ll still need to get the fault repaired
- You may be charged a fee for the reinspection
Sunset VW guides you through the MOT process
We built Sunset VW around this process. From Derby to Allestree to Mickleover, we offer routine servicing, pre‑MOT inspections, and honest advice. We’ve made it our business to help you pass the MOT with minimal interruptions while keeping you moving with minimal fuss.
So, if your VW, Audi, Seat or Škoda is due for its MOT, or you’re looking for an independent retest, drop in to Sunset VW today. We’ll walk you through the process, schedule a pre-MOT inspection, book necessary repairs, and keep you legal on the road. Book now online, call us, or simply drop by.