The MOT Files

Section 7 · Other equipment

7.7 Audible warning (horn)

Manual indexed

Quick answer

Sub-section 7.7 of the MOT inspection manual covers audible warning (horn) and lists 3 defects. A reference like "(7.7 (a))" on a certificate points to the matching row below.

Official wording

The defect clauses

  1. 7.7 (a)Major

    Audible warning not working

    Horn not working, or of the wrong type explained: what it means and what puts it right

  2. 7.7 (b)Minor

    Audible warning control insecure

    Horn not working, or of the wrong type explained: what it means and what puts it right

  3. 7.7 (c)Major

    Audible warning not in accordance with requirements

    Horn not working, or of the wrong type explained: what it means and what puts it right

Wording and categories reproduced from the DVSA inspection manual under the Open Government Licence. Frequencies are items per 100 failed class 4 tests across the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset; a clause with no figure was not recorded often enough to appear in any model’s top forty failure items. 3 of 3 clauses link to our own explanation.

Grading

What the categories mean

Dangerous
a direct and immediate risk to road safety or the environment. The vehicle fails and must not be driven until repaired, even to a garage.
Major
a defect that affects safety, the environment or other road users. The vehicle fails.
Minor
a defect with no significant effect on safety or the environment. Recorded on the certificate; the vehicle passes.

The full guide to defect grading

Section 7

Other sub-sections of other equipment

All sections of the manual

Common questions

What does 7.7 mean on an MOT certificate?
It refers to sub-section 7.7 of the MOT inspection manual, "Audible warning (horn)", within section 7, other equipment. The letter or letters after it — (a), (b)(i) and so on — identify the specific defect from the 3 listed here. 2 Major and 1 Minor.
Which audible warning (horn) defect is recorded most often?
None of the clauses in this sub-section appears among the most-recorded failure items nationally; they are rare in practice.
Does a Minor defect fail the MOT?
No. a defect with no significant effect on safety or the environment. Recorded on the certificate; the vehicle passes. Major and Dangerous defects fail. A Dangerous defect also means the car must not be driven until it is repaired.