Check MOT Expiry Date Online

There are several reasons why everyone's car should have a valid MOT certificate, including:

• You need one to drive – If your car has missed its MOT date, you can only drive it to an MOT testing station or workshop. If you are stopped by the police and don’t have proof of your MOT appointment, your trip will be illegal.

• You could be fined without one – If you are found to be driving your car without an MOT, you may be fined up to £1,000. The police can check vehicle number plates via automatic recognition systems. A quick drive in a car with an overdue MOT date can turn into a court summons just as fast.

• It gives you time to find issues – Many people get a service carried out on their car before an MOT. By knowing when your MOT is due, you can perform all necessary checks and feel more confident that you will pass without any MOT failure codes, potentially saving you money in the process.

If your MOT has expired, you need to act fast. Along with risking penalty fines, you could potentially be putting yourself and other road users in danger. Without a valid MOT, it's also illegal to park your car on the road.

You can drive a car without an MOT to a garage, but if you're stopped by the police, you'll need to prove you're on your way to an appointment.

Driving without an MOT means facing an unsafe and irresponsible level of risk. Using an online MOT check means you can avoid all the hassle that comes with driving after your MOT runs out.

Every vehicle that is at least three years old must have a valid MOT certificate, which needs to be renewed once a year. As the vehicle owner, you are responsible for booking an MOT at an approved test centre.

After its first MOT at three years old, your car needs another test every year. That means every vehicle has an MOT due date.

You can find out when your MOT is due on your car by performing an MOT certificate check. If you can’t find the physical certificate issued at your last test, that’s fine. Use our MOT expiry checker above instead. The only exception is if you have a new vehicle, where its first UK MOT date will be three years after the date the car was first registered.

Our free UK MOT checker helps drivers find out how to check the MOT date and status of their vehicles. Once you have checked the date of your MOT, it's simple to book the test at your local Protyre garage.

If you’re wondering how to check the MOT on your car, doing so is simple. Use our free MOT check tool at the top of the page and you’ll instantly see your MOT due date.

Alternatively, go through your paperwork and find your MOT test certificate. You should be able to check when it will expire this way, but we can save you the time of searching through files!

If you've purchased a new or nearly new car, you'll likely be responsible for booking its first MOT test. This will be due exactly three years after the car was first registered in the UK. For any cars bought nearly new, remember that its first MOT will be due in less than three years.

We've explained more about when you need to MOT a new car in a handy guide to your first MOT.

A new, valid MOT certificate is valid for one calendar year from the date of the test.

An MOT test is a rigorous inspection of the most important parts of your vehicle. Areas covered include:

• Exterior, including checks on the condition and function of paint and bodywork, boot, tailgate, registration plates and mirrors.

• Exhausts and fuel, which will be checked for leaks, emissions quality and stability.

• Electrics, including wiring, battery, dashboard warning lights and internal systems like the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

• Interior, with checks on doors, front and back seats and seatbelts.

• Lights and visibility, from overall condition to windscreen integrity.

• Safety checks on functions such as the horn, steering, suspension, engine mountings, brakes and SRS components such as airbags and position sensors.

We've explained what's included in an MOT test in more detail to give you peace of mind so you can enjoy miles of hassle-free motoring.

An MOT test typically takes up to an hour but could be finished within 45 minutes. Among other things, the time is dependent on the vehicle's size and condition.

When you book an MOT with Protyre, you're always welcome to rest and relax while our expert mechanics carry out the test. Call or visit your local garage to find out about the facilities available while you wait.

If you're wondering what to bring to an MOT appointment, gather recent service documents if you've recently had work done at a different garage. Otherwise, every approved MOT test centre has online access to your MOT documents and history, which they use to confirm your vehicle's legal status.

If it's your vehicle's first MOT or the number plate has changed since its last MOT, bring your V5C logbook to prove you are the registered keeper of the vehicle. And remember to bring your appointment confirmation.

According to official government MOT testing data, between October and December 2023 three in 10 cars and light vans failed their MOT test initially. Around 8% failed as a result of having at least one dangerous item.

Failures are caused by faulty lamps, reflectors, electrical equipment, brakes, suspension, tyres and many other components. While you might be surprised to learn about the most common reasons for MOT failures, there's time to get your vehicle ready once you're in the know.

Your vehicle could fail its MOT for several reasons. You may find these to be unexpected if you don't familiarise yourself with the best steps to prepare for the MOT.

Some of the most basic yet important things to check before your next MOT include your brake lights, wheels and tyres and windscreen condition. If you'd like confidence in your vehicle passing the MOT, book a service beforehand.

If your car fails its MOT, stay calm and wait to find out more from your garage team. Our friendly and approachable mechanics will guide you through your next steps. Your car may need repairs, replacement parts or further inspection before it can pass.

You legally won't be able to drive your car after the current certificate expires, but with Protyre, you might be able to book a free MOT retest or partial MOT retest within 10 days.

Remember, choosing to book a service as soon as possible is by far the safest option. Don't risk it and leave yourself worrying about what happens if you get caught without an MOT.

There are some MOT exemptions on tractors, electric goods vehicles and historic vehicles. You won't need to book an MOT if the vehicle was first registered over 40 years ago, or if no 'substantial changes' have been made to the vehicle in the previous 30 years.

Yes. While we never recommend driving your car on the MOT expiry date, it is legal to drive it on that day. If you must drive on that day, try to make sure that your only journey will end at the garage for your MOT appointment.

Use your MOT expiry date as a reference to inform your next test appointment. You can book an MOT any time before this, but if you would prefer to keep the same expiry date, your new test must be at most one month before the MOT due date.

It’s important to be proactive about this booking, since the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) won't remind you when your MOT date is approaching.

Looking for a motorcycle MOT? No problem, just visit our designated motorcycle section online. While we specialise in cars and car tyres at Protyre, we have plenty of experience working with top-spec motorbikes too.