Nearly 7.9 million vehicles fail their MOT each year, a 28% failure rate, with faulty window washer jets accounting for 216,388 failures in 2025 alone, averaging 592 per day. A quarter of motorists are unaware that a faulty washer jet can cause an MOT fail, and 13% of drivers never check the condition of their washer jets. A fifth of drivers only check washer jets when they have an MOT or service booked. Washer jet replacements can cost as little as £1.99, typically £5-£10 for a pack of two. Three in five car owners do not know how to re-align washer jets correctly.
MOT regulations changed in May 2018, introducing three fault categories: minor, dangerous, and major. A vehicle that fails its MOT with a 'dangerous' fault cannot be driven, even if the previous certificate is still valid. Driving a vehicle with a 'dangerous' MOT fail can result in a £2,500 fine and three penalty points. A second 'dangerous' driving offence within three years can lead to a minimum six-month driving ban. Driving without a valid MOT can result in a fine of up to £1,000.
UK number plates must be made of reflective material, have no background pattern, and use solid black, non-reflective, permanently fixed characters. Number plate characters must conform to specific height, dimension, font, spacing, and no italics standards. Zero-emission vehicles may legally display a green stripe on number plates. Driving with a number plate obscured by grime or mud can result in penalties up to £1,000. Over 20,000 illegal number plate offences were recorded across the UK, with Humberside having 122 incidents per 100,000 people.
'Ghost MOTs' occur when a garage or mechanic logs a pass without actually performing the test. If a car with a fake MOT is involved in an accident, insurance companies may refuse to pay. The maximum charge for an MOT on a car is £54.85.