How the MOT due date works
An MOT certificate lasts one year. The due date is the expiry date printed on the last pass certificate, and it is the same date DVSA holds in its record. The check above reads that record, so the date it shows is the one the police and the DVLA see.
A new car in Great Britain needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration. In Northern Ireland the first test is due at four years. If a car has never had an MOT, the check shows the date its first one is due instead.
Test up to a month early and keep the same date
You can have the MOT done up to one month minus one day before it runs out and the new certificate keeps the original renewal date. If the MOT expires on 15 May, any pass from 16 April onwards runs to 15 May the following year. The check works this date out for you and shows it next to the expiry.
Testing earlier than that is allowed, but the new certificate then starts from the day of the test and you lose the remaining days.
A reminder that does not need your email
Every result has an Add MOT reminder to calendar button. It downloads a small calendar file with two all-day events: one on the first day you can book without losing days, and one on the expiry date itself. It works with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and Outlook. Nothing is stored on our side and we never ask for your email address.
What happens if the MOT runs out
Driving without a valid MOT is an offence and can lead to a fine of up to £1,000. The only exceptions are driving to a test that is already booked, or to a garage for repairs needed to pass. A vehicle cannot be taxed without a valid MOT, and some insurers treat a missing MOT as a reason to reduce or refuse a claim.
If the car fails, the old certificate still runs until its expiry date, unless the tester records a dangerous defect. A car with a dangerous defect should not be driven until it is repaired.
Vehicles that do not need an MOT
Cars under three years old (four in Northern Ireland), and most vehicles built more than 40 years ago that have not been substantially changed, are exempt. Electric goods vehicles registered before March 2015 and some tractors are also exempt. If a car is exempt, the check shows no MOT due date rather than an expired one.
Last reviewed 15 October 2026.