Every vehicle that is three-years-old or over must have a current MOT test certificate and you must renew this once a year. If you have a car, it is your responsibility to make sure that it is examined annually.
 
You can find out when your current MOT expires by looking at your test certificate. If you can’t find it, however, or you simply don’t want to waste time looking, you can make use of our free MOT Checker. All you need is your vehicle registration number and we can tell you straight away if the vehicle has a valid certificate and when your MOT expires.

While MOTs and services are often talked about at the same time, they are different. MOTs are compulsory tests that make sure your car is operating within the law. Services do cover some of these aspects but typically go much further, focusing on all the car’s functions, including those that don’t impact roadworthiness, safety or the environment.
 

Crossover occurs with parts and systems such as brakes, tyres and seat belts. However, a service will include things like consumables (oils and fluids), filters and spark plugs that aren’t covered in the MOT.
 

While there are differences between MOTs and services, you shouldn’t pick one or the other. If you only pick a service, you cannot be sure your mechanic is doing all the right tests, and you won’t get an MOT certificate – a legal requirement.
 

On the other hand, by only getting an MOT your car won’t perform at its best. Oils and fluids need to be regularly topped up and changed or they’ll harm your car’s performance and jeopardise the condition of its parts. A lack of maintenance can even invalidate your warranty and cause more expensive maintenance problems later down the line.
 

Lastly, the driving experience – including comfort, ride, music and more – won’t be the best it can be if you don’t book services, making driving a chore and breakdowns common.
 

Find out what’s included in a Protyre service. 

A Class 7 MOT is one designed for 3 to 3.5 tonne (3,000kg to 3,500kg) commercial vehicles, such as heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). They differ from regular MOTs in that the test criteria are designed for these large vehicles – the tyres must be able to hold their immense weight, and brakes must be powerful enough to stop the vehicles in a legally short time, for instance.
 

You can see what class each type of vehicle is via the government’s handy list.

If your vehicle is over three years old and doesn’t have an MOT, it’s illegal to drive it – apart from when you are heading to an MOT appointment. Even then, you must have notice of the appointment in case the police stop your car.
 

Every motorist needs to book an MOT every year – it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep road users, infrastructure and the environment safe. Even then the penalties can be severe, with fines up to £1,000 being far more than the price of the test and any required maintenance.
 

Learn more about the consequences of driving without an MOT.

If your MOT expires, you must stop driving your car and book an MOT test as soon as possible. You can drive your car to the MOT test centre, but you shouldn’t drive the car on the roads generally or you could be fined up to £1,000. Your insurance will also be invalidated, which could cost you £300 in fines and up to six points on your licence if you’re caught. That is likely, given that MOTs can be checked by the police remotely and rapidly while they’re out patrolling.
 

As a result, it’s crucial you check when your MOT is due to expire and plan an appointment accordingly.

Can you drive a car if it fails its MOT? If you drive a car with an invalid MOT certificate, you are breaking the law, unless the car is still roadworthy and you are driving to a garage for a repair or an MOT centre for a test. Beware, however, that some insurers won’t cover these journeys, so make sure to double-check and arrange for your car to be towed if you aren’t covered.
 

If you fail your MOT test before the certificate expires, you can still drive it until the expiry date (again, if it is still roadworthy).
 

It is possible for a car that is still roadworthy to have failed its MOT. For instance, if your number plate is the wrong size or colour, you will fail your MOT.
 

If your car fails any part of its MOT, you will need to pay separately for any repairs or parts needed to fix any issues – they’re not covered by the test price. That means it can sometimes be a good idea to perform a light service on your car before you get an MOT test, especially if you know there are issues with the car that could cause it to fail (and require you to pay for a retest).
 

View our list of the most common reasons for MOT failures, plus how to get a re-test.

All MOT certificates last a year. You must get a new MOT performed every year on or before the anniversary of the previous test (or three years after the car’s initial registration when new).
 

No insurer will insure your car to be driven if it doesn’t have an MOT. Most car insurance policies will cover your car until its MOT expiry date. Others may cover it if it fails its MOT, but policies differ. If you’re not sure what your conditions are then check your policy documentation or get in touch with your insurer.

You can book an MOT whenever you would like, but it makes sense to do so in the final month before your MOT certificate expires so you get the greatest amount of time for your money.
 

That’s because tests carried out a month (minus a day) before your current certificate expires keep the same expiry date. If you get it done before this, the expiry date will move back accordingly, and you’ll lose out on days of certification you have paid for.
 

For example, if your current MOT certificate runs out on September 15^th, the earliest you can have it re-tested and retain the same renewal date in the following year is August 16^th.

Checking your car’s MOT history is easy. All you need to do is use the government’s free MOT history checker tool.
 

Before you use it, you’ll need the registration number of the car, as well as the 11-digit log book (V5C) number.
 

Once you’ve got that info and inputted it, you’ll be able to view all sorts of MOT history information, including MOT test results, test dates, test locations, specific test information, mileage and the car’s next MOT due date.

Several things can cause an MOT test to fail, including lamps, reflectors, electrics, steering, suspension, brakes, tyres, wheels, seat belts, body, structure, exhaust, fuel, emissions and the driver view.
 

To learn more about the specific reasons for failure you may encounter, check out our complete guide to MOT failure codes.

If your car has failed its MOT, your MOT test centre will give you a form called a ‘Refusal of an MOT Test Certificate' – otherwise known as a VT30. This form has information including your MOT test number, car details and reasons for failure. This form is important as it will tell your garage exactly what they need to focus on when repairing your car to get it ready for an MOT retest.
 

If you leave your car at the testing station that did the original test and they repair it, they can do a partial retest. This means simply retesting the things that needed fixing and were listed on the VT30. If you don’t leave it with them, you can get a retest performed on certain items if you bring it back within 10 working days. View the government’s guidance to learn more.
 

You can often save yourself time and effort by checking things such as tyres and wiper blades before your MOT takes place. These are relatively simple jobs that can save a whole load of hassle.
 

If your MOT has failed, book a free MOT retest with Protyre.