Visibility items are about what the driver can actually see, so they cover the windscreen, wipers, washers and mirrors. The wording almost always mentions the driver's view or the swept area, and that's the clue to what's being assessed.
Visibility items are about what the driver can actually see, so they cover the windscreen, wipers, washers and mirrors. The wording almost always mentions the driver's view or the swept area, and that's the clue to what's being assessed.
Windscreen damage is judged by both size and position. A chip that's harmless low down on the passenger side can be a straight failure if it sits directly in the driver's line of sight, which is why two cars with identical-looking chips can get different results.
These are the visibility entries I see most often, and the ones worth sorting before you even book the test.
Windscreen has damage within the driver's view of the road
There's damage in the part of the screen the driver looks through, and it's larger than the allowance for that zone. Position matters as much as size — the area directly in front of the driver has a much tighter limit than the rest of the swept area.
Full explanation of Windscreen has damage within the driver's view of the road
Wiper blade defective or does not clear the windscreen effectively
The wiper isn't clearing the screen properly. That covers a perished or split blade, a torn rubber, a blade that's lifting off the glass, or a wiper motor that isn't sweeping the full pattern.
Full explanation of Wiper blade defective or does not clear the windscreen effectively
Mirror missing, damaged or insecure
A required mirror is missing, cracked to the point the view is distorted, or flapping about so it won't hold its setting. Cars need an adequate rearward view from at least two mirrors — normally the interior mirror plus the driver's door mirror. A missing nearside mirror can still be recorded where the interior view is obstructed, such as in a van.
Full explanation of Mirror missing, damaged or insecure
Windscreen washer providing insufficient washer liquid
The washers can't deliver enough fluid to clean the screen with the wipers. It's a Minor defect, but it's a genuine fail and it's on the list of things that catch people out — plenty of cars arrive with an empty bottle in summer.
Full explanation of Windscreen washer providing insufficient washer liquid
How visibility defects are graded
Every MOT defect is recorded as dangerous, major or minor. Dangerous and major both fail the test; the difference is that a dangerous defect means the car is not roadworthy and must not be driven away. A minor defect passes but is recorded on the certificate, and an advisory is a note that something is wearing and will need attention before the next test. Tester notes in the visibility section use standard DVSA wording, which is why the phrasing on your certificate looks nothing like plain English — the pages above translate it.
Getting a visibility failure put right
You are free to take the car anywhere for the repair — there is no obligation to have the testing station do the work, and getting a second opinion on a big quote is sensible. Ask for the failed item to be shown to you on the ramp; a genuine defect is always something a mechanic can point at. Once repaired, a partial retest within ten working days covers the listed items without paying a second full test fee.
Avoiding it next year
Most visibility failures are found on a pre-MOT check for a fraction of the cost of a failure plus retest, because they are inspected before the clock is running. An MOT at Bob's Mechanical Repairs in Birnam, Dunkeld is £54.85, and anything found is explained and priced before work is agreed. Bob has 32 years on the tools, so the advice you get is what he would do with his own car.
Common questions
Can I drive away after a visibility MOT failure? Only if the old certificate is still valid and the defect is not dangerous. A defect recorded as dangerous means the car must not be driven on the road until it is repaired, and driving it can mean a fine and points.
Do I pay again for the retest? If the car is left at the testing station and the repair is done there, the partial retest is usually free. If you take it away and bring it back within ten working days, a partial retest is free for the listed items; after that a full test fee applies.
What does an advisory in this section mean? An advisory is a pass with a warning: the item is not bad enough to fail today but is wearing. Advisories on the same item two years running are the ones worth acting on before they become failures.
Decode your exact MOT wording or browse all MOT failure categories.