Along with your car tax, that status of your MOT is one of the most important things to be aware of when it comes to your car. Despite that, hundreds of thousands of us get caught out every year. In fairness, it\u2019s an easy mistake to make, but the unfortunate truth is that it can be a very, very expensive one. The good news is that as long as you\u2019re prepared for them in good time, most of the time MOTs are rarely a cause for concern.<\/p>\n
Some of the most common questions about MOTs include:<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll find the answers in detail below!<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a whole range of easy-to-access websites that feature handy tools on how to check when your car\u2019s next MOT is due. We\u2019ve taken the liberty of field testing a few of them for you, and three websites stand out as amongst the best:<\/p>\n
You may well even have your own favourites \u2013 like our own booking process, they\u2019re all fairly straightforward to use. Just enter your car\u2019s registration plate number, and you\u2019ll be instantly redirected to a page that tells you whether or not it\u2019s still valid, and when its next test is due. Don\u2019t forget to make a note, so you\u2019ll know when it\u2019s coming up!<\/p>\n
Basically, MOT (Ministry of Transport) inspections make sure that your car is still roadworthy and safe to drive, while also ensuring that it meets environmental standards \u2013 all according to UK law. Every car has its first MOT when it turns three years old, and after that it will need to have one done every year. Your MOT will be carried out by an official MOT test centre, and when it passes they\u2019ll give you an official MOT certificate, which expires every twelve months.<\/p>\n
MOTs apply to all classes of vehicle, including cars, vans and motorbikes. There are certain types of (very select) vehicles which are exempt, including:<\/p>\n
An MOT inspection covers the testing and standardisation of a car\u2019s suspension, steering, tyres, brakes and windscreen. It doesn\u2019t, however, necessarily cover the clutch, engine or gearbox, so it might well be worth getting a garage to check those over separately.<\/p>\n
It can vary depending on the car, but in most cases you won\u2019t be looking at more than \u00a355. It can also depend on what sort of work needs to be done on the vehicle. You might find with some garages that they\u2019ll make a few minor repairs as they go (like replacing a headlight bulb, for instance), saving you the time and cost of failing your MOT and having to arrange another one.<\/p>\n
Yes, although it\u2019s nothing to worry about \u2013 failures don\u2019t have any influence on the outcome of any future tests. As we covered above, one of the easiest ways to check a car\u2019s exhaustive MOT history is by using the\u00a0GOV.UK website. The records will be comprehensive, almost always dating all the way back to your car\u2019s very first test, including all those it failed. Within those results, you\u2019ll also be able to see the individual MOT test numbers, and the certificate\u2019s expiry date.<\/p>\n
We also sometimes hear people asking \u201care MOT certificates still electronic?\u201d and the answer is no, not technically. Aside from the MOT records we mentioned above, you\u2019ll still receive a physical MOT certificate in the form of an A4-size piece of paper when your car successfully passes its inspection. The law used to say that you need to display the test certificate on your windscreen, but that\u2019s no longer the case \u2013 if you want to, the glovebox will do just fine.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no cause for panic, as the authorities can still easily check the status of your MOT online. Having said that, it\u2019s still a good plan to get it sorted ASAP. You can do it by contacting an MOT centre (it doesn\u2019t have to be the same one that did your MOT), and giving them your car registration and\u00a0logbook reference number. The MOT centre will then give you a replacement certificate, usually at a cost of around \u00a310, or half the cost of your MOT \u2013 whichever one is cheaper.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not good news, admittedly, but it\u2019s not necessarily catastrophic either. First of all you\u2019ll be issued with a VT30 certificate, which will detail the aspects that caused your car to fail. Then, it\u2019s mostly a matter of getting those issues fixed \u2013 possibly by the test centre themselves \u2013 and then re-booking your MOT.<\/p>\n
Beyond the cost and time involved, there aren\u2019t any penalties for your car failing its MOT test, and you can rebook another one at your own discretion. If you leave your car at the test centre for it to be repaired, and it\u2019s retested within 10 working days, it will qualify for only a partial retest. The good news is that there\u2019s no fee for this!<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t forget that if it fails, it\u2019s immediately illegal to drive it on the road. Ignoring this \u2013 or even not being aware of it \u2013 means you run the risk of getting that \u00a32500 fine we mentioned above, in addition to the penalty points. The only exception to this is if you\u2019re taking it to get its defects fixed, or if you\u2019re taking it to another MOT appointment.<\/p>\n
Make sure you\u2019re able to prove this \u2013 it can be something as simple as calling ahead to the garage, so that they can confirm your appointment. Otherwise it\u2019s the fine \u2013 and if you\u2019re already dealing with a failed MOT, you really don\u2019t need the hassle!<\/p>\n
At the test centre\u2019s discretion, whether you pass or fail, you may also have advisory notes on your certificate, which will also be outlined on your car\u2019s online MOT history. Their purposes are to:<\/p>\n
Make you aware of any parts or mechanisms that are close to failing, and would cause your car to fail its MOT
\nAny unusual aspects of your car, whether structural or cosmetic, uncovered by the MOT
\nAny defects on non-testable items (such as the clutch or engine)<\/p>\n
There are a couple of vital reasons why it\u2019s important check your MOT due date. For starters, the MOT due date is the final day by which your vehicle has to pass its MOT test. (Effectively, serving as its expiration date.)<\/p>\n
If you already own the car in question, it needs an MOT certificate for you to be able to legally drive it on the roads. Driving without one is inherently unsafe, because there\u2019s a possibility your car may be suffering from an unidentified issue \u2013 anything from faulty door handles to worn brakes \u2013 and potentially putting you and others at risk. Even if it is completely safe (which is a gamble to assume), if you\u2019re caught it can still result in a substantial fine of up to \u00a32500, and may even invalidate your insurance.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, if it\u2019s the MOT date of a second-hand car that you don\u2019t yet own, and you\u2019re considering buying it, you\u2019ll need to know when to prepare for taking it in for its test. There\u2019s nothing worse than spending money buying a car, only to get caught out by being nicked for driving it without a valid MOT.<\/p>\n
For these reasons (and more!), it’s important to stay on top of your MOT deadline. You can schedule your MOT test ahead of time, but if you wish to maintain the same renewal date for the following year, you can only do so up to 1 month (minus a day) before your current MOT expires. For instance, if your MOT expires on 4th March, the earliest you can have the test and keep the same renewal date is 5th February.<\/p>\n
Yes, you can appeal a failed MOT test if you believe the decision was unfair or incorrect. The process involves contacting the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) within 14 days of the failed test. You\u2019ll need to complete a VT17 form, which is available from the DVSA, and provide details of the failed test, including the specific reasons given for the failure.<\/p>\n
Once your appeal is lodged, the DVSA will investigate and potentially arrange for a re-test. However, it\u2019s important to note that you should not repair any of the failed components while the appeal is ongoing, as this could affect the outcome. If the DVSA agrees with your appeal, you may be entitled to a free re-test or other corrective measures.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, if you repair the vehicle after the failed MOT, your appeal may be invalidated, so it\u2019s crucial to follow the process carefully. Appealing is a formal process, and while it can be useful in some cases, it\u2019s always a good idea to have your vehicle tested at a reputable and reliable MOT centre to avoid issues.<\/p>\n
If your car does fail its MOT on a technicality, it\u2019s often worth getting it fixed up and simply retaking the test. On the other hand, if it\u2019s nearing the end of its lifespan, or if it\u2019s failed several MOTs, or if it\u2019s failed in a particularly dramatic way, you might decide it\u2019s not worth the cost or bother it would take to fix it. In those cases, that\u2019s where we come in here at Scrap Car Network.<\/p>\n