Is your car due an MOT?

Plan ahead to make sure your car is roadworthy.

It’s vital to get an MOT to ensure that your car is road legal

When a car turns three years old in the UK, it is required to have an MOT carried out to keep it legal to drive on public roads. Driving without an MOT can lead to fines of up to £1,000, but more importantly can mean defects on your vehicle can go unnoticed, with potentially dangerous consequences.

When should I get an MOT?

After a car has been registered for three years, a car is required to go through an MOT test. We recommend booking it a few weeks before, as it means any defects covered by the manufacturer’s warranty could potentially be fixed with no cost to you. You’ll find the date your car was originally registered by checking your V5C registration document.

If your car is more than three years old, you’ll need an MOT no later than the expiry date noted on your previous MOT. Usually, this will be 12 months from your last MOT, although you can have your MOT carried out up to 30 days early and keep your previous renewal date, meaning some cars could have a valid MOT for almost 13 months.

Can I get an MOT early?

You can have an MOT carried out up to 30 days in advance of your renewal date. And although you have renewed early, your next renewal date will remain the same on your certificate for the next year. However, there is nothing stopping you getting an MOT at any time. We would recommend doing this if your car has been unused for a while, or if you have bought a car privately and want to be sure it is safe to drive.

When’s the best time of year to get an MOT?

You should get an MOT whenever your car is due one, but we would recommend booking in advance or consider booking early to avoid peak months, where demand is usually higher. These are typically March and September as they are traditionally when most cars are registered new.