Drivers who don’t keep an eye on one important date could face a fine of up to £1,000. All vehicles on UK roads must have a valid MOT, which helps to confirm that they are fit for public roads. MOTs are a legal requirement that all vehicles must adhere to, including cars, motorbikes, lorries, and vans.
Official guidance states that vehicles found not to have an in-date MOT could see the driver fined up to £1,000. MOTs must also be carried out for most vehicles every year, with the only exception being the third anniversary of a vehicle’s registration if it’s brand new.
How does an MOT work?
MOTs help ensure that a car is fit to drive on roads and meets environmental standards. When your vehicle is sent for an MOT, vital parts of the vehicle are tested to ensure they work properly.
For cars, this can include:
- Seatbelts
- Wipers
- Windscreen
- Electrical wiring
- Battery
- Lights
- Registration plate
- Bonnet
- Tyres and wheels
- Brakes
- Horn
- Exhaust system
- Mirrors
- Doors
- Towbar
- Seats
- Tailgate
- Body structure
- Fuel system
Once an MOT test is carried out, the vehicle will either pass or fail. If a vehicle fails, this is because some part of it is either dangerous or has a major problem.
Because of this, the vehicle cannot be driven until the problems highlighted are fixed. In some cases, the car may still pass but have some minor or advisory problems, the purpose of which is to notify the driver to keep an eye on them as they may need to be fixed in the future.
If you drive a vehicle that has failed its MOT due to a vehicle problem deemed dangerous, then you could be fined up to £2,500, receive three penalty points, and even be slapped with a driving ban.
How and when you should book an MOT
If you have purchased a brand-new car, you will need to get an MOT on the third anniversary of the date it was registered—for example, if it was registered on June 12, 2025, it would need an MOT by June 12, 2028.
If the vehicle is over three years old, then it will need an MOT every year from its previous MOT date. An MOT can be booked up to a month minus one day before when it runs out.
For example, if the MOT runs out on June 12, 2025. the earliest you can get the MOT for the same renewal date is May 13. You may still get an MOT earlier, but the renewal date will also be pushed forward for the following year.
MOTs can only be booked at an approved test centre, which is generally shown when the centre has a blue sign with three white triangles. The maximum cost of an MOT for a car is £54.85 for a car and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle.
Full guidance surrounding MOTs can be found here.