When is my MOT due?
Enter your number plate to see the date your MOT runs out and how many days you have left, from the official DVSA and DVLA records.
How to find out when your MOT is due
An MOT lasts for a year, so the due date is the day the current certificate runs out. There are three ways to find it:
- By number plate. The checker above reads the DVSA MOT history and the DVLA record and gives you the MOT expiry date, the days left, the last test result and whether the car is taxed. GOV.UK's MOT history service and MOT status check show the date too.
- On the MOT certificate. The expiry date is printed on your current certificate. Test centres record every result online and can give you a printed copy.
- Not on the V5C logbook. The logbook has no MOT date, so if you only have the V5C, use the number plate instead.
The date here comes from the same government records. A test passed in the last week can take a few days to show, so if you have just had the MOT, the new certificate is the one to go by.
When is the first MOT due on a new car?
In England, Scotland and Wales a car needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration, then every year by the anniversary of its last MOT (GOV.UK). A car first registered on 10 November 2025 needs its first MOT by 10 November 2028. Some vehicles are tested from one year old, including taxis, ambulances and passenger vehicles with 9 or more passenger seats.
Northern Ireland is different: cars and motorcycles are tested from four years old and light goods vehicles from three (nidirect).
First MOT by number plate (Great Britain)
For a car still on the plate it was registered with. A private plate can make a car look older than it is, so the checker above is the surer answer.
| Plate | Registered | First MOT due |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | March to August 2023 | March to August 2026 |
| 73 | September 2023 to February 2024 | September 2026 to February 2027 |
| 24 | March to August 2024 | March to August 2027 |
| 74 | September 2024 to February 2025 | September 2027 to February 2028 |
| 25 | March to August 2025 | March to August 2028 |
| 75 | September 2025 to February 2026 | September 2028 to February 2029 |
| 26 | March to August 2026 | March to August 2029 |
| 76 | From September 2026 | From September 2029 |
Each car's own date is the third anniversary of the day it was first registered, which can be any day in its plate period. How plates are dated is on our number plate check page.
Can you get an MOT before it is due?
Yes. You can have the MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date. GOV.UK's example: if your MOT runs out on 15 May, the earliest test that keeps the date is on 16 April. The checker above works this date out for your car.
You can go earlier than that, but the next expiry date then moves to one year (minus a day) from the day the car passes. In GOV.UK's example, a pass on 14 April moves the expiry to 13 April the next year.
If the last MOT was in Northern Ireland and the next one is in Great Britain, the renewal date is set by the date of the GB test instead (GOV.UK).
What happens if your MOT runs out?
- You cannot drive or park the car on the road. The only exceptions are driving it to an MOT test you have already booked, or to or from somewhere it is being repaired.
- You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving without a valid MOT.
- You cannot renew the vehicle tax. If the tax is about to run out, declare the car off the road (SORN), book the MOT and tax it once it has passed.
- If it fails with a “dangerous” problem, driving it can mean a fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban and 3 penalty points (GOV.UK).
Source: GOV.UK, Getting an MOT.
Vehicles that do not need an MOT
- Vehicles built or first registered more than 40 years ago, as long as they have not been substantially changed, for example a new chassis, body, axles or engine that changes how the vehicle works (GOV.UK, historic vehicles). Northern Ireland has a similar 40-year rule.
- Tractors, and goods vehicles powered by electricity and registered before 1 March 2015.
- Lorries, buses and trailers, which have an annual vehicle test instead of an MOT.
Exempt types are listed on form V112 (GOV.UK). An exempt vehicle must still be kept roadworthy.
What the MOT certificate and MOT history show
Every result, pass or fail, goes on the MOT database. The history shows whether each test was passed or failed, the mileage at the time, when the next MOT is due, and any “minor” or “advisory” problems to keep an eye on. For a test in England, Scotland or Wales you can download copies of the current and previous certificates. Car results go back to 2005, and Northern Ireland results to 2017 (GOV.UK).
Our MOT history check reads the same records and explains each advisory in plain English, with a rough repair cost. It is a good thing to look at before the test, so you can fix the cheap items first.
MOT and road tax: two different dates
The MOT and the road tax run on separate dates, so the checker above shows both. Tax cannot be renewed while the MOT has expired, which makes the MOT the one to watch. For the tax on its own, use our car tax check.
Test centres can charge up to £54.85 for a car MOT and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle, with no VAT (GOV.UK, MOT costs). Book with an approved centre: they show a blue sign with three white triangles.
Free MOT reminders
Once you have checked your car above, you can ask us for a free email 4 weeks before the MOT is due. We send one reminder for that date, and every email has an unsubscribe link.
GOV.UK also runs a free MOT reminder service by text or email, one month before a car, van or motorcycle MOT is due. It is not open to people living in Northern Ireland, who get a reminder by post 7 weeks before.
MOT due date questions
How can I check when my MOT is due?▼
Enter the number plate in the checker at the top of this page. It reads the official DVSA MOT history and DVLA vehicle records and shows the date the MOT runs out, the days left, the last test result and the road tax status. GOV.UK's free MOT history service shows the same date, and it is also printed on your current MOT certificate.
Does the V5C logbook show the MOT date?▼
No. The MOT expiry date is not on the V5C logbook. Use a check by number plate, like the one on this page or GOV.UK's MOT history service, or look at the date printed on the current MOT certificate.
When does a new car need its first MOT?▼
In England, Scotland and Wales a car needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration. In Northern Ireland cars are tested from four years old and light goods vehicles from three. Some vehicles, such as taxis and ambulances, are tested from one year old.
How early can I get my MOT and keep the same renewal date?▼
Up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out. GOV.UK's example: if your MOT runs out on 15 May, the earliest test that keeps the same renewal date is on 16 April. Test any earlier and next year's date moves to one year (minus a day) from the day it passes.
Can I drive my car to an MOT if it has run out?▼
Yes, but only to an MOT test you have already booked, or to and from somewhere it is being repaired. Otherwise you cannot drive or park it on the road with an expired MOT.
What is the fine for driving without an MOT?▼
Up to £1,000. If the car failed its MOT with a dangerous problem, driving it can mean a fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban and 3 penalty points.
Do I need an MOT to tax my car?▼
Yes. You cannot renew vehicle tax if the MOT has expired. If the tax is about to run out while the car has no MOT, GOV.UK says to declare it off the road (SORN), book the MOT and tax it once it passes.
How much does an MOT cost?▼
Test centres can charge up to £54.85 for a car and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle. These are maximum fees, many centres charge less, and there is no VAT on the fee.
More free checks by reg
MOT history check
Every past test, advisory and mileage reading
Car tax check
Tax status, due date and what the car costs to tax
Number plate check
What a free reg check shows, and what it cannot
Free car check
The full free report for any UK car
Rules checked on 28 October 2026 against GOV.UK (Getting an MOT, historic vehicles, MOT history, MOT reminders) and nidirect (MOT scheme). MOT dates come from DVSA MOT history and the DVLA vehicle enquiry service, under the Open Government Licence.