Only if your current MOT is still valid and no "dangerous" problems were listed. Otherwise the car needs repairing before you drive it. That's the rule on GOV.UK.
You can take the car away if your current MOT is still valid and no dangerous problems were listed. Even then, it "must still meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness at all times".
Driving with a dangerous problem: "You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get 3 penalty points for driving a vehicle that has failed its MOT because of a 'dangerous' problem."
If your MOT has run out, you can still take the car to have the failed defects fixed, or to a pre-arranged MOT appointment. It still has to be roadworthy, or you can be fined.
From GOV.UK: MOT test result and Retest after a repair.
Free, partial retest: if you leave the car at the test centre for repair and it's retested within 10 working days.
Free, partial retest: if you take it away and back to the same test centre before the end of the next working day, for one or more of these:
Partial retest fee: if you take it away for repair and bring it back within 10 working days.
Full MOT fee: in all other cases.
From GOV.UK: Retest after a repair.
7.3% of all car MOTs in 2025 found at least one dangerous defect, about 1 in 14. These are the most common, as a share of all car MOTs.
Only if your current MOT is still valid and no dangerous problems were listed, according to GOV.UK. Otherwise it needs repairing before you drive it. Either way, it must still meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness.
GOV.UK says you can be fined up to £2,500, banned from driving and get 3 penalty points.
Yes: GOV.UK says you can take it to have the failed defects fixed, or to a pre-arranged MOT appointment. It must still be roadworthy.
It's free if you leave the car at the test centre for repair and it's retested within 10 working days, or if you take it back to the same centre before the end of the next working day for certain items such as lamps, tyres, wipers or number plates. Taken away and back within 10 working days, you can be charged a partial fee; otherwise it's a full MOT fee.
27% of car MOTs that failed in 2025 had at least one dangerous defect, about 1 in 4.