MOT passed with failed brake light

heynonnynonny

To cut a long story short, my car passed its MOT even though I knew it had a failed rear brake light bulb, I presumed when I took it in it would be flagged up on an advisory note and I would just get a new one popped in. Are lights on the MOT checklist? I'd have presumed they were, needless to say I just changed it myself at home the same day. Just curious to know really or do MOT's not cover these things. TIA!

Anihilator

Brake lights are an MOT failure yes.

But an advisory? No you would have got a fail. Only a moron would put a car in for an MOT with a blown brake light.

Are you sure it was actually a brake light.

SailorSam

For the cost of a bulb why didn't you change it before you took the car for a test.

anewman

Anihilator wrote: »

Are you sure it was actually a brake light.

Good point. If it was a fog, then that's perfectly fine so long as the offside one works. In fact many cars only have the offside one working to try ensure they do not obscure or be confused with brake lights.

Any good MOT tester finding a failed brake light bulb would issue a failed certificate (to ensure that DVLA recognise they are failing cars appropriately) and fit a bulb then issue a pass.

heynonnynonny

Definitely a brake light. Yes, good point, discovered it the same day as the test, and the places I've used before have just done it for me at no extra cost. I now am pleased to say I have found out how to change them, didn't realise it was so simple :o. Thanks for the info. Was just surprised the garage didn't pick up on it.

heynonnynonny

In hindsight, definitely should have sorted it before taking it in, it never even crossed my mind it'd fail then I'd have pay for a retest, duh. Thanks all for responding, I've got the info I need now

Viper_7

Question.
Why are you driving around knowingly with a failed brake light?
You do know that is a road traffic offense?

Yes, that is an MOT failure.
Glad to see you have now replaced it. It is a 30 second job for anyone. There are actually more instructions with car lights than you'll find with a standard house bulb, so there is no excuse.

headpin

It is not an MOT fail or indeed an offence to have a faulty stop lamp per se.

For cars first used on or after 1 Jan 1971 the requirment is that it must have at least TWO obligatory working stop lamps. Prior to this date only one lamp is required which must be on or to the offside of the vehicle centre line.

Therefore, if you are driving a car which has a stop lamp incorporated in each of the rear light clusters as well as a “high level brake light”, then if only one of those has falied you still actually meet the pass requirement.

Cars first used before 1 January 1936 do not need any stop lamps!!!

KeithP

headpin wrote: »

It is not an MOT fail or indeed an offence to have a faulty stop lamp per se.

Headpin, I agree with you about the number of stop lamps needed, but my understanding has always been that if a stop lamp is fitted it must be working.

So if a 1936 car is fitted with two stop lamps, it will fail the test if either one of them is not working.

This link seems to confirm this.

LandyAndy

heynonnynonny wrote: »

Definitely a brake light. Yes, good point, discovered it the same day as the test, and the places I've used before have just done it for me at no extra cost. I now am pleased to say I have found out how to change them, didn't realise it was so simple :o. Thanks for the info. Was just surprised the garage didn't pick up on it.

Viper_7 wrote: »

Question.
Why are you driving around knowingly with a failed brake light?
You do know that is a road traffic offense?

.

Perhaps that's why?