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Will My Car Fail Its MOT Due to an Engine Warning Light?

It depends on the fault, not on the lamp by itself. This page does not treat the engine warning light as an automatic fail. If the light is on because of an emissions, exhaust or other safety defect, that defect can still fail the test.

A catalytic converter or fuel-system fault can show up on the emissions test. A minor sensor fault that does not break a limit may be recorded as an advisory instead.

Read the fault with a diagnostic tool, or ask a garage, before the test date. The MOT check shows earlier results and advisories for the registration. It does not read the warning light, and it does not book a test.

Frequently Asked Questions

It can come on for an engine, exhaust, fuel or emissions fault. The MOT result depends on the fault, not on the bulb alone.

On this page the light alone is not treated as an automatic fail. If the cause is an emissions, exhaust or other safety defect, the car can still fail that item.

Have the fault read before the test. A light left on can sit over an emissions or exhaust fault that fails the MOT.

The MOT check shows earlier results and advisories for the registration. It does not read the warning light, and it does not book a test.