When is a car’s first MOT due?
A new car in Great Britain needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its first registration. In Northern Ireland it is the fourth. Miss that date and the car has no valid MOT, even though it has never had one before. Here is how to work out the exact date and get it right.
When is your first MOT due?
| Vehicle | First MOT |
|---|---|
| Car, van up to 3,500 kg or motorcycle (Great Britain) | 3rd anniversary of first registration |
| Car or motorcycle (Northern Ireland) | 4 years old |
| Light goods vehicle (Northern Ireland) | 3 years old |
| Taxi, ambulance or vehicle with 9 or more passenger seats | 1 year old |
| Lorry, bus or heavy trailer | 1 year after first registration (annual test) |
How to find your first MOT date
- Enter your registration in our MOT due date check. For a vehicle that has not had its first test, we show “First MOT not due yet” and the date it is due.
- Or find the date of first registration on the V5C log book and add three years (four in Northern Ireland).
For example, a car first registered on 10 March 2024 in Great Britain needs its first MOT by 10 March 2027.
Why the registration date matters, not the purchase date
The first MOT is based on when the vehicle was first registered, not when you bought it. A pre-registered or ex-demonstrator car may have been registered months before you took delivery, so its first MOT can come sooner than you expect. Imported vehicles can be due sooner than you expect, because their age is not counted from the date they were registered in the UK. Check with a test centre if you have imported a vehicle.
Can you get your first MOT early?
You can have a vehicle tested before its first MOT is due. Plan to have it done in the last few weeks before the third anniversary so any faults can be fixed before the date, without losing much MOT time.
Common first-MOT failures
Three-year-old cars do fail, often for simple things:
- Tyres worn below the limit, especially on the front of front-wheel-drive cars
- Blown bulbs, including number plate and brake lights
- Worn wiper blades and empty washer fluid
- Dashboard warning lights that stay on
- Windscreen chips in the driver's line of sight
See our common MOT failures guide for a pre-test checklist.
Is a manufacturer service the same as an MOT?
No. A service, even a dealer service at the three-year point, does not count as an MOT. The MOT must be done by an authorised test centre and recorded on the MOT database. Some dealers offer both at the same visit, but check the MOT has actually been booked.
Do leased and company cars need a first MOT?
Yes. The rules are the same. If the lease runs past three years, check who is responsible for booking the MOT: often it is the driver or the company, not the leasing company.
Set a reminder now
The first MOT is the one people most often forget, because there is no previous certificate or reminder. Use our MOT reminder to add the first due date to your calendar, and sign up for the free GOV.UK text or email reminder.
What happens if you miss your first MOT?
The day after the third anniversary, the car has no valid MOT. You can only drive it to a pre-booked test or to repairs, you could be fined up to £1,000, and you will not be able to renew the vehicle tax. Book the test as soon as you realise.
First MOT for motorcycles and vans
Motorcycles and vans up to 3,500 kg follow the same three-year rule in Great Britain. In Northern Ireland, motorcycles are first tested at four years and light goods vehicles at three. See our van and motorbike pages.