MOT checker

You must get your MOT carried out at an approved MOT test centre. Contact one to book an appointment. There’s a maximum amount MOT test stations can charge, and the price you pay will depend on the type of vehicle you have. 

You may only drive a vehicle that no longer has a valid MOT to or from somewhere to get it repaired or to a pre-arranged MOT test, as long as the vehicle is roadworthy.

An MOT lasts for a year. New vehicles don't tend to need to have their first MOT until they’re three years old.

If your car fails its MOT you’ll receive a ‘refusal of an MOT test certificate’ which explains why the vehicle failed the MOT, and what needs to be fixed or repaired for it to pass.

Your vehicle will fail if the test result lists ‘dangerous’ or ‘major’ problems with your vehicle. You might also get a list of ‘minor’ or ‘advisory’ problems to keep an eye on or fix in the future.

If your vehicle fails the MOT you can drive your vehicle away if:

• your current MOT certificate is still valid and hasn’t run out
• no ‘dangerous’ problems were listed in the MOT

Otherwise, you’ll need to get it repaired before you can drive.

You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get three penalty points for driving a vehicle that has failed its MOT because of a ‘dangerous’ problem.

It’s your responsibility to remember when your car is due for its next MOT. If you’re not sure, you can use our MOT checker tool to tell you when your vehicle’s current MOT expires.

Vehicles that don’t need an MOT are:

• vehicles less than three years old, except private passenger vehicles, which needs one when it reaches one year old.
  
• goods vehicles powered by electricity and registered before 1 March 2015
• tractors.
• vehicles first registered more than 40 years ago, and no ‘substantial changes’ have been made.

To get the latest guidance, you should always refer to the Government's MOT advice page. ^{Footnote [3]}     

An MOT tester will check various parts of your vehicle to make sure they meet the legal standard to be on the road. Below are some of the parts they’ll look at:

• Lights
• Brakes
• Tyres
• Windscreen, including the wipers and washers
• Mirrors
• Exhaust
• Registration plates

You can find a full MOT checklist on the government’s website. ^{Footnote [3]}  

The condition of the engine, gearbox and clutch aren’t checked during an MOT.

Test centres are limited on how much they can charge for an MOT. The government sets out a list of maximum charges by vehicle on their website. ^{Footnote [3]}