You don't receive an official reminder when an MOT test is due, and it's easily forgotten.
If the MOT has expired you can't drive or park your vehicle on the road, and you can be fined £1,000 for not having a valid MOT certificate.
You can check the MOT history of any vehicle on GOV.UK and this also shows you when the next MOT is due.
Our comprehensive MOT checklist will help to get your vehicle ready for its test.
Book your MOT with Smart Care
Can I book my car in for an early MOT test?
You can get an MOT test up to a month minus a day before it expires in order to keep the same renewal date as your current certificate.
If you get an MOT earlier than this, the renewal date will change to the date the vehicle passed its test.
Can I drive the vehicle if it fails the test?
If your car fails the MOT test the expiry date of your current MOT still stands. But you can't continue using your car until the certificate expires.
It's an offence to drive an unroadworthy vehicle that has failed its MOT because of a dangerous problem. You can be fined £2,500, get 3 penalty points, and even be banned from driving for a repeat offence.
The only exceptions are to drive your vehicle to or from a garage to be repaired, or to an MOT test.
MOT test from AA Smart Care
When you book an MOT you get:
- Testing at AA approved garages.
- Quick and easy online booking and payment.
- Repair parts and labour are guaranteed for 1 year or up to 12,000 miles.
- Fair, transparent pricing.
And if you book a service with an MOT, you can get free vehicle collection and return, subject to availability.
If your car does fail its MOT and you'd like us to make the necessary repairs, we can carry out your retest for free.
Author: The AA