Check your MOT status instantly
All cars over the age of three must have an annual MOT, meaning your next test will be due a year after the previous one. So, if your car's MOT certificate expired on the 1st of September last year, it will be due on the same date every year after that.
If you're unsure, use the tool on this page to check you've got the correct date.
There are two main reasons you should always keep track of your MOT due date:
You don't have to wait until the day your MOT certificate expires to get your car tested. You can get an MOT done one month (minus a day) in advance and keep the same expiry date. Your new certificate will be valid for 13 months rather than the usual 12.
You could book your MOT even earlier than that if you wanted, but it would change the expiry date - your certificate would be valid from the date of the test.
Now you know when your MOT is due, the next thing to do is book a test at a trusted local garage. Drivers save over £17 on average by booking their MOT through FixMyCar.
If you're worried about your car failing its next MOT, you'll be pleased to hear there are a few things you can do to give it the best chance of a first-time pass.
DVSA figures show that 37% of vehicles fail their MOT the first time. If this happens to you, don't panic. Read this guide to find out what to do next.
An MOT usually takes 45 minutes to an hour. It will take longer if your car fails and needs repairs.
MOT stands for Ministry of Transport. The test is named after the government department tasked with checking vehicle roadworthiness when it was introduced in 1960.
The government regulates the price of MOTs. The maximum fee for a car is £54.85, and the average cost of an MOT booked on FixMyCar is £43.68.
No - taxing your car without an MOT is illegal. The government website will check your vehicle has an MOT before allowing you to tax it. The exception to this rule is if your car is MOT-exempt.
You can only drive your car after it fails its MOT if you are going to: