There's an edge on the outside of the car that could injure someone — typically rust that's eaten through an arch and left a jagged lip, or accident damage that's left torn metal exposed.
Wording as it commonly appears on an MOT certificate: “Body has a sharp edge likely to cause injury”.
What does it mean?
There's an edge on the outside of the car that could injure someone — typically rust that's eaten through an arch and left a jagged lip, or accident damage that's left torn metal exposed.
How serious is it?
Usually recorded as: Major, Dangerous. The tester assesses the actual vehicle on the day, so your certificate is what counts.
What normally causes it?
- Corrosion breaking through a wheel arch or sill
- Accident damage never fully repaired
- A trim panel or arch liner detached and leaving fixings exposed
What a mechanic would check
Walk round and run a hand near — not on — the suspect area. Then work out whether it's a trim item that can be refitted or whether the rust has gone right through the panel, because those are very different repairs.
What might need replacing
- Trim or panel refitted or replaced
- Welding and repair where corrosion has holed a panel
- The edge dressed and treated where the panel is otherwise sound
Can you still drive it?
Can be recorded as Dangerous where the edge presents a real risk to pedestrians. It's usually straightforward to make safe, so there's no reason to leave it.
Repair cost
Anything from refitting a loose piece of trim to a panel repair with paintwork. The assessment is quick — get it looked at rather than guessing from a photo.
Before the retest
Corrosion and structural repairs need to be done properly — welded steel, not filler or underseal painted over rust. Ask for photos of the repair before it is sealed so you know what was done. Run your hand carefully along the edges of bumpers, trims and arches before the retest and make sure nothing sharp or loose remains that could catch a pedestrian.
Retest rules
If the vehicle stays at the test centre for repair and is retested within 10 working days, a partial retest is often free; some items qualify for a free retest if you bring the car back by the end of the next working day. The exact conditions are set out on GOV.UK, so confirm with the test centre before you leave. A major or dangerous failure means the car cannot legally be driven away unless the previous MOT is still valid and nothing dangerous was recorded — check your certificate first.
Related help
More body and structure failures · MOT failure decoder · Ask a mechanic about your certificate
This is general guidance from a UK mechanic, not a substitute for a physical inspection. Only the tester who inspected your vehicle can confirm what was recorded and why.