Cases of so-called ghost MOTs have doubled in 12 months, according to figures cited by Halfords, raising fresh concerns over road safety, tyre compliance and trust in the MOT network. The company says passes issued without a vehicle inspection can leave motorists unaware that key safety items, including tyres and brakes, have not been checked.
Ghost MOTs occur when an MOT pass is issued without the vehicle receiving a proper inspection. In some cases, the driver may believe the car has been checked by a garage. In others, motorists may knowingly seek a fraudulent pass to avoid repair costs.
Halfords said cases recorded by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency rose from 976 to 1,809 in 12 months. It believes the figure may understate the true scale of the problem, because ghost MOTs can be difficult to identify without enforcement work, testing data or complaints from the public.
The warning is particularly relevant to tyre retailers, fast-fit operators and MOT centres because tyres remain one of the most visible safety checks in the annual test. The DVSA MOT inspection manual states that car tyre tread must be at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread and around the full circumference of the tyre.
For motorists, the danger is simple: a vehicle may appear legally compliant on paper while still carrying unsafe tyres, worn brakes, defective lights or warning-light faults. Halfords said one MOT tester alone was found by DVSA to have issued 223 ghost MOTs for vehicles that were never tested.
Andy Turbefield, MOT expert and Head of Quality at Halfords, said ghost MOTs show rogue garages and testers “taking advantage of the system”. He warned that MOTs check critical safety components, including tyres and brakes, and said the official numbers likely “only scratch the surface”.
The issue also sits alongside wider tyre-safety concerns previously covered by Tyre News. Recent reporting on [new drivers being urged to make tyre checks a lifelong habit] highlighted the need for motorists to understand tread depth, pressure and condition from the start of their driving life. Tyre News has also reported on [TyreCheck 2025 findings showing nearly four in ten UK vehicles at elevated tyre safety risk], including illegal and barely legal tread levels.
Halfords advises motorists to carry out basic checks after an MOT if they have concerns. Tyres close to or below legal tread depth, dashboard warning lights, defective bulbs or obvious faults not recorded on the MOT certificate may all warrant further investigation.
Drivers buying a used car should also review the vehicle’s MOT history and be cautious where a fresh 12-month MOT appears unusually clean for an older vehicle. A certificate issued on the same day as collection may not be suspicious by itself, but it should prompt closer scrutiny if the car shows visible defects.
Where a motorist believes a vehicle has passed when it should have failed, GOV.UK says they can appeal the MOT result to DVSA. The official guidance says DVSA will contact the complainant after receiving the appeal form and may arrange a recheck if required.
For reputable MOT stations and tyre businesses, ghost MOTs create an unfair competitive problem as well as a safety issue. Legitimate operators invest in trained testers, compliant equipment, audit trails and customer advice. Fraudulent passes undermine that work and can delay essential tyre replacement.
The warning also reinforces the value of transparent inspection records, clear customer handovers and visible evidence of tyre condition. For workshops, showing tread readings and explaining advisories can help build confidence at a time when MOT trust is under scrutiny.
Halfords said motorists should use established garages and be wary of suspiciously fast turnarounds. A proper MOT usually takes around 40 to 50 minutes, the company said, meaning a very short collection window may be a warning sign.
Tagged with: ghost MOTs, MOT fraud, tyre safety, DVSA, Halfords, tyre tread depth, MOT testing, used car checks, roadworthiness, garage compliance, UK motorists, unsafe tyres
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