With temperatures plummeting and frost spreading across the country this week, and the first cold-health alert of the winter in place for the North West and West Midlands, drivers are being reminded that a valid MOT certificate may not protect them from a £2,500 fine.
If a car fails its MOT with a dangerous defect, then the driver can be fined up to £2,500, banned and given three penalty points for driving it away, even if the previous certificate hasn’t expired yet. Cars also need to stay roadworthy between tests, and illegal tyres carry a fine of up to £2,500 and three points per tyre. It’s usually a cold snap when drivers find this out.
Green Flag recorded almost 150,000 call-outs for failed batteries in November 2024, up 26% on October, and the RAC’s 2026 report on motoring found that one in 10 motorists have knowingly driven on worn tyres or skipped an MOT.
Tom Preston, Chief Executive Officer at Hippo Leasing, has shared eight checks drivers should be doing this week:
“A lot of drivers see their MOT certificate as proof that their car is fine for the year, but the law doesn’t always work that way. If your car fails its MOT with a dangerous defect, then you can’t legally drive it away, even if your old certificate still has months left on it. Doing so can risk a £2,500 fine, three penalty points, and a possible ban. Your car also has to be roadworthy every time you drive it, so a car that passed in the spring could actually land you a fine this week if the tyres have worn below the legal limit.
“This week’s weather shows why batteries are usually the first thing to go. Cold temperatures reduce how much charge a battery can hold, just as the engine needs more power to start, so breakdowns tend to jump on the first proper cold snap. If your vehicle was slow to start this morning, treat that as a warning and get the battery tested.
“Nearly half of private cars on the road are now over 10 years old, and older cars tend to pick up more of the wear-and-tear faults that show up at an MOT. It’s also concerning how many drivers are aware of a problem, but put it off due to cost. In the RAC’s latest research, one in 10 drivers admitted to skipping an MOT or driving on worn tyres. A quick tyre check or battery test costs much less than a breakdown, or the fine that can follow.
“A few basic checks now can help you avoid being stranded or fined as temperatures drop:
“1. Test your battery now – Most car batteries last four to five years, so if yours is getting close, have it tested now rather than waiting for it to fail. Any garage or accessory shop can do this in a few minutes. Short journeys don’t give a battery long enough to recharge, so take a longer drive every so often, and check the connections for dirt or a loose fit, which on its own can be enough to stop a car from starting.
“2. Make cold starts easier, including in EVs – A slow start on a cold morning usually means the battery is working harder, not that there’s a major fault. Switch off the heater, lights and radio before starting to give it one less job to do. EVs still rely on a small 12-volt battery to start up, so keep the main battery above 20% over winter, and pre-heat the car while it’s plugged in to protect range.
“3. Check tread and pressure with the 20p test – Illegal tyres can mean a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per tyre. For new drivers within two years of passing, two illegal tyres could be enough to lose their licence. The legal minimum is 1.6mm, but 3mm gives noticeably shorter stopping distances on wet or frosty roads. Put a 20p coin into the main grooves, and if you can see the outer band, the tread is too worn, and it’s time for new tyres. Check pressures at the same time, as cold air makes them drop more quickly, and make sure your spare is in good shape too.
“4. Clear the whole windscreen before setting off – According to Autoglym, 43% of drivers admit to setting off before the windscreen is fully clear, rising to two-thirds of 25 to 34-year-olds. The Highway Code says you must be able to see out of every window, so a scraped porthole isn’t enough and could lead to a fine. Use a proper winter-strength screenwash, as weak or diluted mixes can freeze on the glass and damage your wipers, and check the blades for splits, as rubber wears faster in the cold.
“5. Top up your antifreeze – Coolant with the wrong mix, or too little of it, can freeze in the pipes overnight and crack the engine block. That’s a repair bill running into the thousands, compared with a top-up costing a few pounds.
“6. Check all exterior lights – Walk around the car and check that the headlights, brake lights and indicators all work and are free of mud and grime. Faulty lights are one of the most common reasons for an older car to fail its MOT. Analysis of 2025 DVSA test data shows one in six MOTs on cars over 10 years old failed on lights and electrics, more than three times the rate for younger cars. Plus, with darker evenings, faulty lights make it harder for other drivers to see you.
“7. Check your oil – Oil thickens in the cold, so an engine already running low is under even more strain on a freezing start, which is one of the quickest ways to cause lasting engine wear. Check the dipstick once a month and top up if needed.
“8. Pack a winter boot kit – Keep an ice scraper and de-icer, jump leads or a portable jump starter, a torch, a warm blanket, a high-vis jacket, food and water in the boot, plus a small shovel and an old piece of carpet for grip if you get stuck in snow or mud.”
