If you do not get your vehicle MOT'd before its expiration date you legally cannot drive your car on the road and then have the risk of getting fined. This can be up to £1,000 and points being added to your licence, so it's always worth checking the expiration dates on your last MOT documents or by using the Will it Pass tool.
No, your insurance policy will be invalidated from the day following the date your MOT certificate expires. This means that you'll be driving around illegally and the police will be able to tell that you have no MOT with their ANPR technology. Also, in the event that you have an accident, you will not be covered, so you'll have to cover the costs of any damage to your car or another driver's if you were at fault and this can be extortionate.
If you do not have a valid MOT, DO NOT drive the vehicle and book an MOT test straight away. You can only drive it on the way to your MOT test.
If you're looking to book in your next MOT, avoid the hassle of having to shop around by visiting BookMyGarage.com. They compare over 8,500 garages to find prices for your MOT and Servicing needs. To get started, all you need is your car reg and postcode to find the best price.
Yes, if you've lost it.
No, if your vehicle hasn't got a valid MOT certificate.
If you've lost your MOT certificate, the MOT status will be available on the Government's vehicle database, so provided that your vehicle passed its MOT, you will be able to tax it.
The only situation where you can legally drive your vehicle without tax is if you are travelling to a pre-booked MOT check with documentation of proof.
Unfortunately, the short answer is no. As soon as your MOT date passes it becomes illegal for you to drive or park your vehicle on the road.
In May 2018, three new defect categories were implemented into the MOT test:
If a vehicle passes its MOT with minor defects, it means that the faults are not serious enough to warrant failing the MOT check. The MOT certificate will include the minor defects and provide advisories on getting them repaired when possible (sooner rather than later). The vehicle will still pass its MOT with minor defects.
If there are faults with the vehicle that leads to a failure of the MOT but are not regarded as dangerous, such faults will be listed under the ‘Major’ category and will need to be rectified immediately.
In the event that the vehicle has ‘Dangerous’ faults, the owner of the vehicle cannot drive it until all faults have been addressed and repaired.
You can find out more about what is checked during an MOT and what you can check before an MOT in our helpful guide.
Yes, the police’s Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology can detect motorists driving without a valid MOT certificate, as well as being able to detect vehicles that do not have road tax (vehicle excise duty) or insurance.
It depends. If you have signed up to the Will it Pass MOT reminder emails then you will receive reminders starting one month before your test is due. It also depends on the garage where you usually take your car for an MOT - some will offer to send you a reminder when your MOT is due to be renewed.
If you have the V5C for the vehicle, you can get a replacement at any MOT garage, they are allowed to charge up to £10 for a replacement MOT certificate. Alternatively you can get a free replacement on the UK Government website.
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