Ten million drivers could have 'car forced off road' due to DVSA rule

Millions of vehicles could fail their MOT test this year ahead of booking chaos over Christmas. DVSA data found that 26.82 per cent of drivers fail their MOT test each year, with last year seeing a whopping 9.9 million drivers fail.

Under UK law, drivers can be fined up to £2,500 for driving a vehicle which has failed its MOT. In more severe cases motorists could even be banned from driving and get three penalty points for driving a vehicle with a ‘dangerous’ problem.

New research has found almost a quarter - 23 per cent - of all MOTS were carried out late last year - equating to 7.6 million owners. It also found 8 per cent of MOT tests were over a month overdue, putting road users and motorists at risk.

READ MORE: BBC Match of The Day star Gary Lineker faces court showdown over £4.9m tax bill

READ MORE: 22 parts of England face snow next week with '90 per cent chance' of UK blast

READ MORE Exact date UK hammered by -9C 'snow bomb' which will last 'five days'

Katie Lomas, managing director of Green Flag, said: “Driving without a valid MOT can pose a serious risk, not just to yourself but to other road users. Regular vehicle checks and timely MOT renewals are crucial to keeping our roads safe and for drivers to avoid substantial fines and penalties."

You can drive a car to a pre-booked MOT test without a valid MOT certificate, even if it is on SORN and doesn't have car tax. The vehicle must have insurance and you should check the policy is valid for driving without an MOT, as some insurers may not cover vehicles under these circumstances.

There is no law on how far you can drive a car without a valid MOT to a pre-booked appointment, but you should try and keep the distance as short as possible. Otherwise, if you are stopped by the police or involved in an accident, then you may still be could still be prosecuted for any defective parts on your vehicle.

Ollie Green, from Hatfield MOT, explained that recent data from last year's MOT tests showed that brakes remain one of the leading causes of failure, accounting for 9.92 per cent of all tests that fail. “This is a key area for drivers to watch out for, as brake-related major defects, which make up 6.03 per cent of failures, can significantly impact road safety," he added.

Green commented: “Any issue with the steering system can severely impact vehicle control, particularly in winter weather when precise handling is critical."