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DVSA defectMinor

4.9.1.a.i

Presence, condition and operation · 'Tell-tales' mandatory for lighting equipment

Minor · Rectify, monitor, and address.

What this code means

A mandatory tell-tale for direction indicators or hazard warning missing or inoperative

DVSA manual phrasing — written for testers, kept verbatim.

How serious is itMinor

No significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment. The vehicle has passed the MOT but the defect should be repaired as soon as possible.

What the tester was checking

Presence, condition and operation

Section 4
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
4.9
'Tell-tales' mandatory for lighting equipment
4.9.1
Presence, condition and operation
4.9.1.a.i
this defect
What to do next

Rectify, monitor, and address.

Always confirm with a qualified MOT tester or vehicle technician for your specific vehicle. A re-test must address the defect category identified above.

Related codes in this subject

motfailcode.uk maps DVSA MOT defect codes to plain-English meanings. Defect severity classifications follow the DVSA MOT Inspection Manual current as of 12 May 2026. Codes and severities are updated annually (typically May). Always confirm with a qualified MOT tester or vehicle technician for your specific vehicle. This site is not affiliated with DVSA or HM Government.

See our methodology for how we extract and verify each code, and sources for the full citation manifest.