When is my MOT due?

What the check shows

Dates below are examples.

• MOT Valid until 15 May 2027The date the car's latest MOT pass runs out.
• MOT No MOT yet. First MOT due 12 Jun 2027A newer car that hasn't had an MOT. The date is the first MOT due date on DVSA's record.
• MOT Expired on 30 Sep 2026The latest MOT pass has run out. See what that means.
• The full MOT historyEvery MOT on record, newest first, with the result and the mileage. We flag mileage drops, a recent fail, dangerous defects in the last 3 years and repeated advisories.

The date is also printed on your current MOT certificate, if you have one.

When is a car's first MOT due?

In Great Britain, a car needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration. Some vehicles, such as taxis and ambulances, need one at 1 year old.

For a new car, our check shows the first MOT due date from DVSA's record.

How often do I need an MOT?

Every year. An MOT lasts for a year. Once a car is over 3 years old, it needs an MOT by the anniversary of its last MOT.

Can I get my MOT early?

Yes. You can get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date. Here's GOV.UK's example:

• 15 MayYour MOT runs out.
• 16 AprThe earliest MOT that keeps 15 May as next year's date.
• 14 AprToo early to keep the date. If the car passes, next year's MOT runs out on 13 Apr.

If you test earlier than a month (minus a day), the renewal date changes to one year (minus a day) from the date the car passed.

If the car fails, you can drive it away only if your current MOT is still valid and no ‘dangerous’ problems were listed. Otherwise it needs repairing first.

What if my MOT has run out?

You can't drive or park the car on the road. GOV.UK says you can be prosecuted if caught. The only exceptions are driving it:

• to a pre-arranged MOT test
• to or from somewhere to be repaired

GOV.UK says: “You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT.”

You can't renew your vehicle tax while the MOT has expired. If the tax is about to run out, GOV.UK says to declare the car off the road (SORN).

The penalty is higher for a car that failed with a dangerous problem. GOV.UK says: “You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get 3 penalty points for driving a vehicle that has failed its MOT because of a ‘dangerous’ problem.”

Get a reminder before your MOT is due

We don't send MOT reminders.

GOV.UK has a free MOT reminder service. It's GOV.UK's service, not ours. It sends a text or an email one month before a car's MOT is due. To sign up, you need the registration and a mobile number or email address.

Northern Ireland

Different rules apply to vehicles registered in Northern Ireland.

• nidirect says that, as a general rule, cars four years old and over are due an MOT test.
• If your next MOT is in Northern Ireland, you can't keep any time left from a test done elsewhere in the UK. The new 12-month certificate starts on the day of the test.
• The early-test rule doesn't apply if your last MOT was in Northern Ireland and your next one is in Great Britain. The renewal date is based on the date of the GB test.
• You can't use GOV.UK's reminder service if you live in Northern Ireland. You'll get a reminder by post 7 weeks before your MOT is due.
• MOT records for tests in Northern Ireland start in 2017.

Buying a used car?

Our check works for any car, not just yours. Before you buy, check when the MOT runs out and read the history.

Sources

What our check shows comes from our own code. The MOT rules come from these pages.

• Getting an MOT, GOV.UK, updated 28 Nov 2024, checked 1 Nov 2026
• Getting an MOT: MOT costs, GOV.UK, updated 28 Nov 2024, checked 1 Nov 2026
• Getting an MOT: MOT test result, GOV.UK, updated 28 Nov 2024, checked 1 Nov 2026
• Get, view or stop MOT reminders, GOV.UK, updated 18 Oct 2017, checked 1 Nov 2026
• Check the MOT history of a vehicle, GOV.UK, updated 20 Oct 2017, checked 1 Nov 2026
• How the MOT scheme works, nidirect, updated 22 May 2026, checked 1 Nov 2026