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.
Wording as it commonly appears on an MOT certificate: “Windscreen has damage within the driver's view of the road”.
What does it mean?
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.
How serious is it?
Usually recorded as: Major. The tester assesses the actual vehicle on the day, so your certificate is what counts.
What normally causes it?
- Stone chips, which is nearly always what it is
- A small chip left alone until temperature changes ran it into a crack
- Damage from a scraper or a failed repair attempt
What a mechanic would check
Measure the damage and note exactly where it sits relative to the driver's position. That's the difference between a chip that can be resin-filled and a screen that has to come out.
What might need replacing
- A chip repair, if it's caught early and in the right place
- A replacement windscreen
- ADAS camera recalibration on cars with lane assist or auto braking
Can you still drive it?
It's a failure item. A crack in the driver's view is also a distraction and it will keep spreading, particularly with the demister on full on a frosty morning.
Repair cost
Chip repairs are often covered by comprehensive insurance without affecting no-claims — worth checking your policy first. Full screen replacement costs considerably more on cars needing camera recalibration afterwards.
Before the retest
Fit wiper blades that clear the screen in one sweep without smearing, top up the washer bottle and confirm both jets actually reach the glass. Look carefully at the area swept by the wiper in front of the driver for chips and cracks, and clear anything stuck to the screen there. Check that both door mirrors are secure and the driver can see clearly behind.
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 visibility 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.