MOT History Check

MOT tests themselves are responsible for testing the roadworthiness and safety of vehicles in the UK. Almost all vehicles (excluding a few exemptions) are required to be MOT tested at least once a year, and it’s this assessment that judges whether a vehicle meets legal standards and is deemed safe to drive on UK roads.

A vehicle can be assessed to have “Minor” faults and still pass the MOT test, whereas if the vehicle has any “Major” faults, these needs to be repaired or fixed before the vehicle is legally allowed to be driven again on the road and awarded a valid MOT certificate.

The following features of a vehicle are checked on an MOT test:

• Seat belts
• Tyres
• Brakes
• Electrical equipment, including lamps and reflectors
• The body and structure
• Exhaust system, fuel and emissions
• Mirrors & windscreen
• Steering and suspension

You’ll notice that the engine, gearbox, and clutch are not mentioned in the list above, and that’s because they are not checked on MOT tests.

To find out more about what is and isn’t included on an MOT test, read our guide: Your complete MOT checklist.

To get a legitimate and valid MOT, you must take your vehicle to an approved MOT test centre. You can identify an approved MOT test centre because it’ll display a blue sign with 3 white triangles in it.

Generally, if you type “MOT test centre near me” on Google, you’ll find somewhere you can take your vehicle. Check which centres are best reviewed and contact them so that you can book an appointment.

If you’re still struggling to find a test centre, visit the GOV.UK website where you can find the UK’s active MOT test stations.

On average, an MOT test takes between 45 and 60 minutes. You can learn more specifically about how long your MOT might take by reading our guide: How long does a MOT take?

MOT stands for Ministry of Transport. The Ministry of Transport is a department of the UK government which is responsible for monitoring overall vehicle safety and roadworthiness, and they mostly do this through MOT tests.

According to GOV.UK, the maximum fee you can pay for a car MOT is £54.85, whist for a standard motorcycle MOT you shouldn’t pay more than £29.65. You don’t need to pay VAT on an MOT fee.

Bear in mind that this charge is just for the MOT test itself, because if your vehicle is assessed to have major faults, you’ll need to pay the garage to get them fixed in order for the vehicle to receive a valid MOT and be eligible for driving safely on UK roads.

There are exceptions, but on the whole, no, you cannot drive a car without having a valid MOT. If your vehicle’s MOT runs out, or it fails its MOT test, you’re not legally allowed to drive the vehicle unless you are driving to a pre-booked MOT test.

Other than the legal implications, driving a vehicle without an MOT is also unsafe and dangerous, not only for you, but also for other drivers. Read more on this in our guide: Drive without an MOT - what you need to know.

In order to be able to provide comprehensive coverage, most insurance companies require a valid MOT certificate to confirm that a car is roadworthy. While some insurers may offer third-party insurance without an MOT, this is rare and usually comes with conditions. Additionally, driving without an MOT can invalidate your insurance.

It's important to check your insurance policy documents carefully to understand the specific requirements and conditions related to MOT history and status. If you need help understanding how your car insurance policy works, get in touch with us. We'd be happy to help.

Is your MOT expiry date incorrect? If so, you need to get in touch with the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency). They'll be able to update your certificate and send out the corrected version to you.

The best way to find out whether your car is taxed or not is to try out our Car Tax Checker! It’s free to use and can give you an immediate insight into if and when your car was last taxed.

You can also review the latest UK car tax changes 2025 in our recent guide.

According to the Ministry of Transport, you are able to get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before the MOT runs out, which would keep the same renewal date for the following year.

For instance, if your MOT was due to run out on September 20th, the earliest date you can get an MOT and keep the same renewal date for the next year is August 22nd. Check your MOT history to make sure you don't book a test too early or too late!

For most new, standard vehicles and cars, they’re not required to be MOT tested until they reach three years old. Otherwise, other vehicles which are MOT-exempt include:

• Tractors
• Some classic or historic vehicles
• Electric goods vehicles registered before 1st March 2015.

There are some more specific regulations and restrictions for particular vehicles though which you can read on GOV.UK’s Vehicles Exempt from MOT page.

MOT defect categories are used to group faults based on how significant they are. The four categories you need to know are: advisory, minor, major and dangerous.

Depending on how severe a car’s faults are will depend on which of these categories it will fall under.

Yes, major defects or faults will result in an immediate MOT fail. Examples of major MOT defects include:

• Excessively worn brake pads
• Substantial fluid leak within the exhaust system
• Broken windscreen wipers

Major faults are deemed to put you and other driver’s safety at risk, so it’s important that they are flagged on MOTs and fixed right away.

No, you absolutely cannot drive a car which has failed an MOT as a result of a major fault.

This is because major faults are only flagged if part of a vehicle is deemed unroadworthy. Driving a vehicle which is considered to be unroadworthy could be illegal, and if caught, you could face fines if you’re stopped by the police.

No, if your car has a minor defect, it can still pass the MOT test. However, whilst minor faults aren’t deemed serious enough to fail an MOT, they still need repairing, mainly to ensure they don’t get worse and become a major fault.

A minor fault could include a tyre tread not being up to scratch, or a something preventing the driver from being able to see the roads clearly.

Yes, you can appeal a failed MOT test, but only if you believe that the result is incorrect.

You can do this by contacting the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency). However, you must do this within 14 working days of the test and provide details as to why you believe the test result was no correct. It will then be up to the DVSA to decide whether your vehicle should be re-examined.

You can re-take an MOT test, but only if you have gotten the necessary repairs that were flagged on the failed MOT test. Once your mechanic has done that, your vehicle is then eligible to re-take the test within 10 days free of charge.

Need more information about MOTs? You’ve come to the right place. Learn more about MOTs in the guides below:

• MOT FAQs - Everything you need to know about MOTs
• What Does MOT Stand For? MOT Terms Explained
• Your complete MOT checklist
• When do I need an MOT?
• Motorcycle MOTs: All you need to know
• Can You Insure a Car Without an MOT?
• Can You Tax a Car Without an MOT?
• What MOT Class is My Vehicle?
• How long does a MOT take?
• Drive without an MOT - what you need to know

Everything you need to know about cars and the insurance policies which cover them. Explore more topics in our Car Insurance Guides.

• Car Insurance Groups [A Complete Guide]
• Car Insurance Group Checker
• Your guide to Cat S car insurance
• If my car is written off what happens to my insurance-policy?
• When does my car insurance run out?
• Can you use a no claims bonus on two cars?
• Car insurance for non UK residents
• How much voluntary excess should I pay on car insurance?
• Can you drive a SORN car to an mot without insurance?
• What are car insurance occupation categories?
• Car insurance change of address: what to know
• Car insurance without a black box: what to know
• Car insurance cancellation laws in the UK

Read more car guides

Learn more about the ins-and-outs of cars through our car guides:

• UK car tax changes 2025: what you need to know
• New registration plates for 2025: UK number plates explained
• How to change a car battery
• What does a car service include?
• How much oil does my car need? A handy guide
• Car warranty cover: What to know
• What is ESP on a car?
• How long do car tyres last?
• How long does a car battery last?
• Wrong fuel in your car? Here’s what to do
• All the Info You Need on Your V5C Log Book
• V5C New Keeper Slip: How to Change a Car’s Registered Keeper
• What is a V11 reminder?
• SORN my car: How to declare your vehicle as off road

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