Can a car fail its MOT for low engine oil?

My son's car recently failed an MOT because the engine coolant was low and engine oil was low. I know this is part of good car checks, but since when has this been part of an MOT test? It may be part of an engine's health but has nothing to do with overall safety.

Asked on 12 February 2021 by robert battley

Answered by Dan Powell

The MoT tester cannot fail the car because the coolant and engine oil levels are low. But they can refuse to test the car because the condition of the vehicle is such that, in the opinion of the tester, a proper examination would cause damage to the vehicle. Oil and coolant are vital to the basic health of the engine. If they are low then the MoT tester is well within their rights to refuse to test the car.

Tags: mot

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