MOT rules and due dates
This guide brings together the main UK MOT rules in one place: when tests are due, how early you can test, what happens if you miss one, which vehicles are exempt and how the rules differ in Northern Ireland.
When is the first MOT due?
| Vehicle | First test |
|---|---|
| Cars, vans (up to 3,500 kg) and motorcycles in Great Britain | By the 3rd anniversary of first registration |
| Cars and motorcycles in Northern Ireland | At 4 years old |
| Light goods vehicles in Northern Ireland | At 3 years old |
| Taxis, ambulances and passenger vehicles with 9 or more passenger seats | At 1 year old |
| Lorries, buses and heavy trailers | 1 year after first registration (annual test) |
After the first test, an MOT is needed every year. See our first MOT guide for working out the exact date.
How early can you get an MOT?
In Great Britain, you can have an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before your current certificate expires and keep the same renewal date. If your MOT runs out on 15 May, the earliest test that keeps the 15 May date is 16 April.
In Northern Ireland, a new certificate always runs for 12 months from the test date, so testing early moves your renewal date forward.
Can you drive with an expired MOT?
Only to a pre-booked MOT test, or to and from a garage for repairs needed to pass. The vehicle must still be roadworthy. There is no grace period.
Penalties
| Offence | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Driving without a valid MOT | Fine of up to £1,000 |
| Driving a vehicle with a dangerous problem | Fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban and 3 penalty points |
| Driving an untaxed vehicle (tax cannot be renewed without an MOT) | Fines, and the vehicle can be clamped |
MOT test classes
| Class | Vehicles | Maximum fee (GB) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycles up to 200cc | £29.65 |
| 2 | Motorcycles over 200cc | £29.65 |
| 3 | 3-wheeled vehicles up to 450 kg unladen | £37.80 |
| 4 | Cars, motor caravans, taxis, goods vehicles up to 3,000 kg | £54.85 |
| 5 | Passenger vehicles with 13 or more passenger seats | £59.55 to £80.65 (more with a seat belt installation check) |
| 7 | Goods vehicles 3,001 to 3,500 kg | £58.60 |
Source: GOV.UK MOT test fees. See our MOT cost guide for the full list.
Which vehicles do not need an MOT?
- Vehicles built or first registered more than 40 years ago that have not been substantially changed in the last 30 years (see our classic car exemption guide).
- Goods vehicles powered by electricity and registered before 1 March 2015.
- Tractors.
- Vehicles younger than their first test age.
Exempt vehicles must still be kept roadworthy.
What the MOT does not check
The MOT checks that a vehicle meets minimum road safety and environmental standards on the day. It does not check the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it is not a substitute for regular servicing.
Free reminders
- GOV.UK sends free reminders by text or email a month before a car, van or motorcycle MOT is due, and two months before a lorry, bus or large trailer test.
- Northern Ireland drivers get a reminder by post about seven weeks before.
- Our MOT reminder adds the date to your phone calendar with alerts a month and a week before.
MOT and vehicle tax
A vehicle that needs an MOT cannot be taxed without a valid one. Tax does not transfer to a new keeper, so buyers must tax a vehicle before driving it. See our tax and MOT guide.
Checking an MOT
Anyone can check the MOT status and history of a vehicle with its registration, free, either on GOV.UK or with our MOT history check. Records go back to 2005 in Great Britain and 2017 in Northern Ireland.