Every car over three years old needs an annual MOT test to make sure it's roadworthy.
A yearly MOT test is a legal requirement for the vast majority of vehicles on the road. There are some exemptions, which we'll cover below, but chances are if your car is at least three years old you'll need an MOT test.
- What is an MOT test?
- How long does an MOT take?
- What is checked on an MOT test?
- Where should I take my car for its MOT?
- When do you need an MOT?
- How much does an MOT cost?
- When does a car become MOT exempt?
- Which vehicles are exempt from an MOT?
- What happens if you drive without an MOT?
What is an MOT test?
The MOT (Ministry of Transport) test is a yearly test to assess the safety and roadworthiness of your car, to allow you to continue driving it on public roads.
The test examiner will carry out lots of checks on the inside and outside of your car, testing everything from the brakes to its exhaust emissions.
An MOT pass gives you up to 13 months of legal driving, but it doesn't mean your car will necessarily be roadworthy for all of that time. You need to keep on top of routine maintenance and servicing, and address any problems that come up during the year.
How long does an MOT take?
An MOT takes around 40 minutes to an hour to complete once started. If the examiner finds a fault or defect, they’ll mark it down as Dangerous, Major or Minor. There are over 600 ways to fail an MOT, so it’s best to be prepared.
As part of the regulations for MOT test centres, they have to provide a viewing area so you can watch the MOT test take place. However, you can't interrupt the MOT tester if you choose to stick around while your car's being tested. Alternatively, most garages will let you drop the car off and come back for it later.
What is checked on an MOT test?
The MOT test covers lots of areas on the interior and exterior of your car, including:
- Brakes
- Lights
- Mirrors
- Safety equipment
- Electrical systems
- Fuel system
- Suspension
It doesn’t cover the engine, gearbox or clutch, because they don’t directly affect the safety of your car. However, if your car’s dash is showing an engine warning light, that’ll count as a failure.
Where should I take my car for its MOT?
You have a few different options when deciding where to take your car for its MOT, including:
- Manufacturer franchise/dealer – Depending on your car, it might be best to take it to a service centre run by the original manufacturer. They’re best placed to carry out specialist repair work, but are generally the most expensive
- Independent garage – Lots of local garages have an in-house technician who’s qualified to carry out MOT tests. This is one of the cheapest options, but prices can vary. We’d recommend the Good Garage Scheme for finding a local garage you can trust
- Fast fit – Fast fit outlets are places such as Halfords and Kwik Fit. They’re convenient and competitively priced, with online booking available for MOT and servicing, but they’re not the cheapest and may not be able to carry out some specialist repairs
When do you need an MOT?
Your car will need an MOT test once per year after its third year. The date of its first MOT will normally be 36 months after the date it was first registered on the road (information listed in the V5C document).
How do you know when your car’s MOT is due? That’s easy. Just head to the DVLA’s MOT checker and input your reg number. From here, you can see the date your next MOT is due, access its most recent test certificates and sign up to receive an MOT reminder by email or text.
You can book an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and still keep the same renewal date. Otherwise, you can book an MOT at any time of the year – but the MOT certificate will expire on the same day the following year.
When will a new car need its first MOT?
New cars need to be taken for their first MOT once they’re three years old. It’s expected that cars newer than this will be in roadworthy condition, both mechanically and cosmetically.
How much does an MOT cost?
MOTs vary in price but are capped at £54.85. Realistically, you should never have to pay the full amount if you book in advance and check prices at a range of local garages.
In our experience, most garages and MOT test centres charge between £30-£50. The price you pay may vary depending on how you book and when. We’d always recommend doing some research online to find the best MOT prices in your area.
Note – Don’t be tempted by an MOT test centre that seems too cheap to be true, because there’s a good chance it will be. For example, if you spot a deal for a cheap £20 MOT, the garage may inflate the subsequent repair costs to recover their expenses. They might also exaggerate problems and pressure you to agree to repair work or replacement parts your car doesn’t need. Use the Good Garage Scheme to find reputable dealers and stay away from prices that are suspiciously low.
When does a car become MOT exempt?
Once a car is 40 years old or more, it no longer needs an MOT test. However, you need to make sure that your car remains in a roadworthy condition – it doesn’t mean you can neglect all maintenance. Some classic car owners continue to put their car through an annual MOT for peace of mind.
Which vehicles are exempt from an MOT?
As well as cars over 40 years old and cars under three years old, some other vehicles are exempt from an MOT. These include:
- Tractors
- Taxis (exempt after a test that exceeds MOT standards)
- Police vehicles (these are maintained to a far higher standard than a regular car)
- Trams
- Certain vehicles used for a very specific purpose or in a specific location
What happens if you drive without an MOT?
If your car is between three and 40 years old, you cannot drive without a valid MOT test. Doing so can result in a £1,000 fine if you’re pulled over by the police, who use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems to instantly check whether your car is taxed and MOT’d.
The punishment can be more severe if your vehicle received a ‘dangerous’ fault and you continue driving it without rectifying the fault. In this case, you can expect a fine of up to £2,500, three penalty points on your licence and possibly even a driving ban.
One loophole is that, if your car still has a valid MOT certificate from last year, you can drive it until the same date this year. As an example, if your car passed an MOT test on 18 October last year and failed its MOT on 10 October this year, you’ve still got eight days of having a valid MOT certificate. You should use this time to fix any issues your car failed on in the most recent MOT test.
There’s only one scenario where you can drive a car without a valid MOT certificate, and that’s if you’re on the way to a garage for an MOT test. This is a common excuse pulled by drivers stopped by the police, so make sure you can prove that the test has been booked.
You can’t even park on the road if your MOT has expired. If your car can’t be used on the road, it has to be parked on private land – such as a driveway or in a garage – and you’ll need to declare it SORN to the DVLA.
There’s no grace period for MOT tests, so as soon as your car has an expired MOT certificate you could be prosecuted.
