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.
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.