MOT Guidance and Information
Please note, the following information applies to cars only.
To find your nearest MOT station, click 'here'.
The MOT is an annual test of road-worthiness given to cars three years old or more. The standards are set by a government agency. Any car of qualifying age must have a current MOT certificate or its use on the public roads is illegal and any insurance you have may be invalidated.
The first test is required when the vehicle is three years old, must be performed again no more than twelve months later and yearly after that. Note, there is no leeway given - the minute your car goes more than 12 months without passing a test, it is illegal to take it on the road.
When tests are due: (note: it is the responsibility of the owner to ensure tests are carried out at the correct time).
The first MOT is required three years after the date of registration - provided the car was not used prior to that first registration (such as an imported car).
If the vehicle has been used prior to the date of registration, the first MOT test is due three years after the end of the year of manufacture. Therefore a vehicle manufactured in, say, 2005 would require its first test no later than 31st December 2008. As stated above, no leeway is given on this.
An MOT test can be carried out at any time. If a test is performed within a calendar month of when the previous test certificate expires, the new certificate is valid until 12 months from the expiry of the old one. So, say for example, your current MOT expires at the end of June 2008 and you have the car tested in the first week of June, your new certificate will be valid until the end of June 2009 (about a year and three weeks). This rule will also apply if the car is presented within a calendar month of it’s first MOT, in which case the registration document will need to be produced as proof of date of registration.
If the car is tested more than a month before its due date, the new certificate will run for 12 months from the date of test.
The current feel for an MOT test is £50.35 (as at February 2008). Some garages offer discounts on this price, so phone around.
If you are not mechanically minded, it is a good idea to have a reputable garage perform a pre-test check on your car to make sure it is in good enough condition to pass - otherwise re-test fees can mount up.
For a list of items the MOT testing station will check, click ‘here’ or click the forward arrow below.
