Warning lights on your dashboard are never a good sign, but what if they pop up right before your car gets its MOT? Which warning lights will result in failure?
Read on to find out which ones you really need to worry about.
Can A Car Pass An MOT With A Warning Light On?
Yes, it can. However, there’s a very good chance it won’t!
Certain lights will be an immediate fail (and we’ll explain which ones in this article). Others might be fine this year, but if left unchecked could become a serious problem in 12 months time.
Not sure what each light means? Take a look at our guide!
Which Warning Lights Will Automatically Fail An MOT Test?
Certain red lights, when lit up on your dashboard, will result in a fail for your car’s MOT test instantly. Save yourself the hassle (and the testing fee) by ensuring these lights, and the problems that cause them, are sorted out before you take it to the garage:
A red engine management light most likely means you’ve got serious problems with your car. Your MOT will be failed instantly, but you might even discover after some investigating that you’re better off scrapping your car than paying for repairs!
Find out why an engine light can be such bad news come MOT time here.
Your ABS light indicates that there’s a problem with your car’s traction control. Since ABS must legally be installed on all new cars (as of 2004) it’s clearly a very important safety feature, and any problems should be dealt with as soon as possible. An ABS light on the dashboard is an instant fail, so learn what to do if this light comes on.
Like ABS, airbags are another safety feature that’s revolutionised the automotive industry. Your insurance company might invalidate your policy if you drive around without operating airbags, and similarly, your MOT tech will immediately fail your car if this light is on.
Should I MOT My Car With A Warning Light On?
In general, you probably shouldn’t. If your car is displaying any kind of warning light, it means there’s something wrong with it.
Warning lights usually indicate a problem that will impact the performance of the vehicle, so the car will likely fail its MOT test.
What Do The Different Colours Of Lights Mean?
Your dashboard has the ability to light up in a variety of colours… but you really don’t want it to! This is what each colour means:
Blue
The least common colour of light, with only two possibilities – You’ve either got your full-beam lights on, or your engine is too cold to operate properly.
Green
Green lights are nothing to worry about at all. These ones are usually just to give you information about the status of the car, like that your headlights are on.
Amber
An amber light means your car has a problem that should be fixed as soon as possible. However, they shouldn’t result in your car suddenly breaking down.
Red
Red lights are as bad as it gets. These indicate a serious problem with your vehicle and, if your car doesn’t die on your first, you should probably pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so. Choosing to ignore a red warning light could be the difference between your car surviving to see its next MOT, or heading the scrap yard. It could also be very unsafe to drive with red warning on your dashboard.
As always, there are exceptions to the rule – not all red lights mean you’re heading for a catastrophe…
Which Red Lights Are Not Bad?
Some red lights are simply there to indicate that your car isn’t read to get moving. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s damaged or needs to visit your nearest mechanic.
- Handbrake – See that P, in the ring, inside the brackets on the image above? That P stands for ‘parking brake’ and means your handbrake isn’t fully off. Double-check that you’ve lowered it all the way down before moving.
- Door/Boot/Bonnet Open – This one is fairly self-explanatory; it looks just like you’d expect it to so it’s easy to recognise, and simply means that one of them isn’t properly closed.
- Seatbelt Not Fastened – Another one that’s easy to spot; it looks like a person sitting with a seatbelt across them. Ironically, it means someone is not wearing their seatbelt. However, these sensors are regularly triggered by heavy objects, like shopping bags, resting on a seat.
- If your seatbelt doesn’t work, it will fail the MOT test – here’s what to do if your seatbelt is broken.
If you have a warning light on your dash, here’s some more helpful guides
If you have a warning light on your dash, here’s some more helpful guidesWarning Light FAQs
Why is my car driving normally with a warning light on?
Not every issue that causes a light to flash on will cause immediate problems. In fact, many amber lights can simply be an indication that something is starting to go wrong and should be investigated & repaired to prevent real damage further down the line.
Is it illegal to drive with warning lights lit on my dashboard?
No. It’s not illegal, but in some cases (like with an airbag light) you could invalidate your insurance policy.
Plus, if you’re involved in a crash, the blame might fall squarely on you if you’ve got warning lights on your dashboard. For example, if you skid off the road and hit somebody whilst your ABS light is glowing red, you’ll struggle to claim your innocence. In cases like that, it’s possible that you might be charged by the police.
Sell your MOT failed car
If you want to get rid of a car which has failed it’s MOT test, or is damaged beyond repair, you can get an instant and free quote online. Simply add your reg number and postcode and we can find you a salvage buyer in your area.
MOT Failure Hub
If you have, or expect to, fail you next MOT test there are a number of options, and important things to know. Luckily, we have expert guides on all MOT failure topics.
Can you drive car after a failed MOT
There is a 10 day grace period where it can be driven, with conditions that the car is safe.
Retesting and appealing an MOT test
If you are not happy with you test results and believe there to be mistake, find out your next steps here.
Driving a faulty car before your MOT test
If you know your car would fail an MOT test, you have a legal a duty to have that car repaired. Find out more.
Failing your MOT on emissions
Failing your MOT on emissions is not usually something we would expect. Find out everything you need to know here.
Or, visit our MOT failure hub for guides on everything related to MOT, and how to navigate your options after a fail.
