We use cookies to improve your experience on this website and analyse site traffic. To find out more please review our cookie policy.
Please use the arrows to navigate to the sub pages
22 April 2026
Motorists warned of dangers of ‘Ghost MOTs’ as cases DOUBLE in 12 months
The issue of ‘ghost’ MOTs - where MOT passes are issued without an inspection of the vehicle ever taking place - is on the rise. THIS is what motorists need to know to ensure it does not happen to them.
21st April, London: Cases of ‘ghost MOTs’ in the UK have doubled, according to the most recent figures.
Ghost MOTs are a growing threat to safety on UK roads. A ghost MOT is one that is issued to a vehicle, despite no inspection having taken place. The move allows rogues to collect a fee for an MOT, without doing any work.
As such, a driver can leave the garage assuming their vehicle has received a thorough safety check - either their existing vehicle or one they have just bought - when in reality, the tyre tread hasn’t even been checked.
The latest figures show the number of cases recorded by the DVSA has doubled, from 976 to 1,809, in just 12 months.
However, Halfords believes the figures only ‘scratch the surface’ as it can be hard to tell when ghost MOTs are taking place. The DVSA relies upon its own enforcement team, data supplied by the MOT testing Service (MTS) and by members of the public raising MOT appeals to understand if a MOT garage may be doing this, such as unusually high pass rates, unrealistically high numbers of MOTs taking place, or tests being completed too quickly.
Highlighting the possible scale of the issue, one MOT tester alone was found by the DVSA to have issued 223 ghost MOTs for vehicles never tested. As such, Halfords believes thousands of vehicles could have received ghost MOTs, unbeknown to the vehicle owner.
In addition, the DVSA reported that in a recent 12-month period it stopped 156 garages and 335 individuals from conducting MOT testing following investigations into fraud reports.
While Halfords believe that in most cases drivers are completely unaware of receiving ghost MOTs, they also point out that some motorists may be colluding with garages and even paying more for a ghost MOT, to avoid costly repairs that may be needed in order to pass a real MOT test. In these cases, the car will not usually even visit a garage, with the MOT issued remotely.
The risk to motorists is clear - driving around with a vehicle that could be simply unsafe to be on the road. What’s more, motorists could open themselves up to a range of fines if they are found to be driving an unroadworthy vehicle.
Andy Turbefield, MOT expert and Head of Quality at Halfords said: “Ghost MOTs are a clear example of rogue garages and MOT Testers taking advantage of the system. The only way to be 100% sure an MOT has been conducted is to do another one, via the DVSA Appeal process. This difficulty in spotting if a car has had a ghost MOT means the official figures likely only scratch the surface.
“However, the impact on motorists can be huge in terms of safety - MOTs check key safety components like tyres and brakes. It’s a matter of time until someone is killed. The reality is that we may have already had accidents and deaths as a result of ghost MOTs and we simply don’t know.”
Below, Andy shares his key tips for reducing the risk - or spotting if you may have been a victim - of a ghost MOT.
● Do checks yourself after the MOT - for example, the legal limit for tyre tread in the UK is 1.6mm. If they are below 3mm you should get an ‘advisory’ from the garage. Measure your tyres after the MOT and if they are below 3mm and nothing was mentioned, something might be up. Likewise key warning lights such as ABS or SRS remaining on the dash, or light bulbs not properly working are a dead giveaway.
● Use established, trusted garages - it's highly unlikely that a reputable garage or chain of garages would risk their whole business for the sake of making a quick buck. Go for reliable, trusted brands with a large volume of positive reviews.
● Beware a quick turnaround - a proper MOT should take 40-50 minutes. And a busy garage will likely have lots of other work to do that day. If they tell you to come back in half an hour to collect the car, that’s a clear warning.
● Be cautious of MOT history on a secondhand car - Secondhand cars frequently come with a 12-month MOT. If you are picking up your new vehicle in the morning, and the MOT certificate was issued that day, that could be a red flag. An unusually clean MOT history on an older vehicle could also suggest concerns.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact Halfords@vccproar.com or 0207 932 3693
Notes to Editors
Ghost MOT figures based on most recent available from DVSA: https://garagewire.co.uk/news/must-read/illegal-ghost-mot-cases-double-across-the-uk-in-a-single-year/
About Halfords
Halfords is the UK's leading provider of motoring and cycling products and services. Customers shop at 404 Halfords stores, 3 Performance Cycling stores (trading as Tredz and Giant), 604 garages (trading as Halfords Autocentres, McConechy's and National) and have access to more than 200 mobile service vans. Customers can also shop at halfords.com and tredz.co.uk for pick up at their local store or direct home delivery, as well as booking garage services online at halfords.com.