If your vehicle has failed its MOT, or come back with advisories you’re not sure about, MH Auto Repair Centre can carry out the repair work needed to get it road-legal and ready for retest. We’re based in Perivale, Greenford, and cover the surrounding West London area.
Send us a photo of your MOT failure or advisory sheet on WhatsApp and we’ll talk you through what needs doing and what it’s likely to involve.
What Are MOT Repairs?
MOT repairs are the work carried out on a vehicle to fix the faults identified during an MOT test, so it meets the legal standard required to pass. When a car fails its MOT, the tester issues a list of the items that don’t meet the requirement, from worn brake components to damaged suspension parts, faulty lights or excessive corrosion. MOT repairs address those specific items rather than being a general service, though a repair visit is often a useful moment to deal with any advisories at the same time.
Once the necessary work has been completed, the vehicle is ready to go back for a retest to confirm it now meets the standard.
Common Reasons Cars Fail Their MOT
MOT failures usually fall into a small number of recurring categories. Bring your failure sheet along and our team can assess exactly what’s needed, but common causes include:
- Brakes — worn pads, discs below the minimum thickness, or an imbalance between brakes on the same axle.
- Suspension — worn shock absorbers, damaged coil springs, or play in suspension joints and bushes.
- Tyres — tread depth below the legal minimum, damaged sidewalls, or incorrect tyre type for the vehicle.
- Lights and electrics — faulty headlights, indicators, brake lights or number plate lights.
- Corrosion and structural issues — rust or damage affecting the structural integrity of the bodywork, chassis or sills.
- Steering — excessive play or wear in steering components.
- Visibility — windscreen damage within the driver’s line of sight, or worn wiper blades.
MOT Advisories vs MOT Failures
An MOT advisory is not a fail. It means the tester has noted something that isn’t yet bad enough to fail the vehicle, but is worth monitoring and may need attention before it becomes a problem, such as brake pads with life remaining but starting to wear, or a tyre approaching the legal tread limit. A failure means the vehicle does not currently meet the legal standard and cannot pass until the fault is put right.
Ignoring advisories is common, but items left unaddressed often reappear as failures at the next test, sometimes alongside further wear elsewhere. If you’d like advisory items looked at while your car is already booked in, let us know when you send your MOT report over on WhatsApp.
How We Handle MOT Repairs
Send us a copy of your MOT failure or advisory report on WhatsApp, or bring the vehicle in, and we’ll take it from there.
- Report review and inspection — we go through the failure items on your MOT sheet and inspect the vehicle to confirm exactly what needs doing.
- Quotation — we let you know what’s involved and provide a quote before any work begins.
- Repair — the necessary work is carried out, whether that’s a single item such as a brake component or a combination of faults.
- Retest — once the repairs are complete, the vehicle is ready to go back for its retest.
Repair times vary depending on the type and extent of the work required. Some jobs may take around 3–5 days, but the workshop will advise once your vehicle has been inspected.
What Affects the Cost of MOT Repairs
There’s no fixed price for MOT repairs because every failure sheet is different. The main factors that affect cost include:
- The number of failure items and advisories being addressed
- Which components need replacing, and whether parts are readily available for your vehicle’s make and model
- The labour involved in accessing and replacing the affected part
- Whether the issue is isolated or connected to wider wear elsewhere on the vehicle
Genuine parts are available where appropriate, and we offer competitive pricing on all repair work. Send your MOT report over on WhatsApp and we’ll give you a clear quote before starting anything.
Related Services
MOT repairs is part of our wider MOT services, alongside pre-MOT checks and general MOT queries. MOT failures often relate to brakes, suspension or tyres specifically. Depending on what’s on your report, it may also be worth looking at our suspension repair service or our tyre shop for new tyres. If you haven’t had your MOT yet and want to catch problems before they turn into a fail, our Pre MOT Inspection checks the vehicle against the same standard in advance.
Why Choose MH Auto Repair Centre for MOT Repairs
We’re a family-run local workshop in Perivale, Greenford, and our technicians bring around six years of relevant experience to every job. All repair work carried out at MH Auto Repair Centre comes with a six-month warranty, and we offer a free vehicle inspection so you know exactly what’s needed before committing to anything. A replacement vehicle may be available where applicable — just ask the team when you get in touch.
MOT Repairs FAQs
What happens if my car fails its MOT?
If your car fails its MOT, you’ll be given a list of the items that don’t meet the required standard. The vehicle needs those faults repaired and to pass a retest before it can legally be used on the road again, unless the current MOT certificate hasn’t yet expired and none of the failure items are dangerous.
Do I need a retest after MOT repairs?
Yes. Once the failure items have been repaired, the vehicle needs to be retested to confirm it now meets the MOT standard before a new pass certificate can be issued.
What are MOT advisories, and should I get them fixed?
An advisory is something the tester has flagged as worth keeping an eye on, but which didn’t fail the car on the day. It’s worth addressing advisories reasonably promptly, since items left alone tend to wear further and can turn into failures at the next test.
How much does it cost to fix a failed MOT?
Cost depends entirely on what’s failed and how many items need attention, so there’s no single answer. Send your MOT failure sheet over on WhatsApp and we’ll give you a clear quote once we know what’s involved.
Can I still drive my car if it fails its MOT?
Generally, if your existing MOT certificate has expired, you shouldn’t drive the car except to a pre-booked MOT or repair appointment. If any failure items are marked dangerous, the car shouldn’t be driven at all until they’re fixed, even if the previous certificate is still valid. If you’re unsure, it’s worth checking your specific failure sheet or asking us when you get in touch.
How long do MOT repairs take?
It depends on the job. A single component replacement may be quick, while multiple failure items or harder-to-source parts can take longer. Some jobs may take around 3–5 days, and we’ll advise on timing once we’ve inspected the vehicle and confirmed what’s needed.
Get Your MOT Repairs Sorted
Whether it’s a single failure item or a full list of advisories, send your MOT report over on WhatsApp and we’ll let you know what’s involved and what it’s likely to cost before any work starts. Prefer another way to reach us? Visit our contact page.
