An MOT is due at 3 years and yearly after. Car MOT max fee £54.85; no valid MOT can mean a fine up to £1,000. Check any vehicle's MOT history free on GOV.UK.
MOT GUIDE · 48 GUIDES IN THIS SERIES
Everything an MOT history shows and how to read it: test results, expiry date, advisories and recorded mileage, with the free official check on GOV.UK.
Check a vehicle
The official GOV.UK service shows the full MOT history of any vehicle tested in England, Scotland or Wales: results, expiry date, advisories and recorded mileage. It is free and needs only the registration number.
Editor's Note: This guide explains the official DVSA MOT record, which is free to search on GOV.UK. Kael Tripton offers no quotes, calls or commission.
An MOT is due by a vehicle's third anniversary and every year after. The maximum fee for a car is £54.85, driving without a valid MOT can bring a fine of up to £1,000, and any vehicle's MOT history is free to check on GOV.UK with just the registration number.
Figures verified 23 October 2026 against GOV.UK
Sources: GOV.UK Getting an MOT · MOT fees · Check MOT history
The GOV.UK MOT history service is free and needs only the registration number. It shows past results (pass or fail), recorded mileage, when the next MOT is due, and for England, Scotland and Wales tests also where the test was done and which parts failed or had minor problems.
MOT history covers cars, motorcycles and vans tested since 2005; HGVs, trailers, buses and coaches since 2018; Northern Ireland tests since 2017. A buyer or owner can learn from the record of past results, mileage and defects.
An MOT is needed by the third anniversary of a vehicle's registration, then every year after that. Taxis, ambulances and vehicles with 9 or more passenger seats need an MOT from 1 year old.
An MOT can be done up to a month minus a day before it runs out, and the renewal date stays the same. For example, if an MOT runs out on 15 May, the earliest test that keeps the date is 16 April. GOV.UK offers free MOT reminders by text or email.
The maximum MOT fee is set by law and depends on the vehicle type. For a car with up to 8 passenger seats the maximum is £54.85, while motorcycles have a maximum of £29.65. Class 7 goods vehicles weighing between 3,000kg and 3,500kg have a maximum fee of £58.60.
These figures are maximum fees only, and garages are free to charge less than the legal limit. No VAT is charged on the MOT fee.
| Vehicle | Class | First MOT (years) | Maximum fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car (up to 8 passenger seats) | 4 | 3 | £54.85 |
| Motorcycle | 1 or 2 | 3 | £29.65 |
| Motorcycle with sidecar | 1 or 2 | 3 | £37.80 |
| Taxi or ambulance | 4 | 1 | £54.85 |
| Passenger vehicle, 9 to 12 seats | 4 | 1 | £57.30 |
| Goods vehicle up to 3,000kg | 4 | 3 | £54.85 |
| Goods vehicle 3,000kg to 3,500kg | 7 | 3 | £58.60 |
Source: GOV.UK MOT test fees, checked 23 October 2026.
Driving without a valid MOT can lead to a fine of up to £1,000. The only exceptions are driving to or from a repair, or to a pre-arranged MOT test. These limited exceptions apply to journeys directly connected with those purposes.
Vehicle tax cannot be renewed if the MOT has expired.
Vehicles built or first registered more than 40 years ago can be exempt from MOT testing if they have had no substantial changes, such as a replaced chassis, body, axles or engine. Even where exemption applies, the vehicle must still be roadworthy at all times when used on the road.
Other vehicles that do not need an MOT include tractors and electric goods vehicles registered before 1 March 2015. These categories fall outside standard MOT testing requirements, though the condition and safe use of such vehicles remain the responsibility of the owner or operator.
An illustrative example shows how to read a history. A pass with advisories records minor problems to monitor. A later fail, followed by a retest pass, shows the fault was fixed. Each entry lists the result, the recorded mileage and the next MOT due date.
In the same illustrative example, the mileage is lower than the figure recorded the year before. A reading that falls between tests is a warning sign to question, as odometer figures normally rise.
Northern Ireland runs its own MOT system through the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), with different rules and processes. MOT history for Northern Ireland tests is available from 2017 on the same GOV.UK service. Details: nidirect vehicle testing.
A vehicle needs an MOT by the third anniversary of its registration, then every year. Taxis, ambulances and vehicles with 9 or more passenger seats need one from 1 year old.
The maximum MOT fee is £54.85 for a car with up to 8 passenger seats, £29.65 for motorcycles and £58.60 for Class 7 goods vehicles from 3,000kg to 3,500kg. Garages can charge less and no VAT is charged.
Driving without a valid MOT can lead to a fine of up to £1,000. The only exceptions are driving to or from a repair, or to a pre-arranged MOT test.
An MOT can be done up to a month minus a day before it runs out and the renewal date stays the same. For example, if the MOT runs out on 15 May, the earliest test keeping the date is 16 April.
The GOV.UK MOT history service is free and needs only the registration number. It shows past results, recorded mileage and when the next MOT is due, plus where the test was done and which parts failed or had minor problems in England, Scotland and Wales.
The page's MOT checker shows a vehicle's MOT expiry date and full test history from the DVSA record. An MOT can be renewed up to one calendar month, minus a day, before the current expiry, and testing in that window keeps the original renewal date. Tax status is a separate DVLA record checked on GOV.UK.
The GOV.UK Check MOT History service covers light vehicles registered in Northern Ireland since March 2023. It was developed by DVSA with Northern Ireland's Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA). The check uses the vehicle registration number and shows MOT results and history.
Source: GOV.UK: Check MOT history
GOV.UK's Check MOT History service is the stated checker for MOT expiry; it shows when a vehicle's current MOT expires using the registration number. DVSA also runs a free MOT reminder service that sends a text or email before the MOT is due.
Source: GOV.UK: Get an MOT reminder
The MOT guide series
MOT dates, expiry and exemptions
MOT by vehicle type
uk-vehicle-tax
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uk-vehicle-tax
Exhaust MOT advisory explained: an insecure exhaust is a major defect, one likely to detach is dangerous, and a leak that could affect emissions is major.
uk-vehicle-tax
Headlamp aim MOT advisory: beam near the limits. Aim outside the limits, aim that cannot be tested or an incorrect beam image is a major defect and a fail.
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Oil leak MOT advisory: an excessive leak is a major defect, a continuous serious leak is dangerous, and a pool over 75mm within 5 minutes is a fail.
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Suspension bush worn MOT advisory: an excessively worn bush is a major defect, one likely to detach is dangerous. Rubber bushes fail only on serious deterioration.
uk-vehicle-tax
Brake pads wearing thin MOT advisory: pads worn to the wear indicator are a major defect, below 1.5mm is dangerous. A lit warning light alone is not a fail.
uk-vehicle-tax
Tyre cracking or perishing MOT advisory: ageing rubber, no cords exposed. It fails only if cuts reach the cords (major) or the structure bulges or tears (dangerous).
uk-vehicle-tax
First MOT stays at 3 years (decided January 2024). Photos at test rolled out from 3 August 2026; new fees and appeals poster from 12 June 2026.
uk-vehicle-tax
Only approved MOT centres showing the blue sign with 3 white triangles can test a car. HGVs, buses and trailers use a separate GOV.UK finder.
uk-vehicle-tax
DVSA says nearly 50% of MOT faults are avoidable with simple maintenance. Lights caused 30% of faults, tyres 10%. Pre-MOT checks from DVSA guidance.
uk-vehicle-tax
Free GOV.UK checks: DVLA vehicle enquiry shows tax, SORN and MOT expiry from the number plate; MOT history adds every result and mileage since 2005.
uk-vehicle-tax
Class 7 MOT: vans over 3,000kg to 3,500kg, and zero-emission vans 3,501kg to 4,250kg. Maximum fee £58.60; first MOT at 3 years.
uk-vehicle-tax
Yes, only to a pre-arranged MOT test or to or from a repair. Other journeys risk a £1,000 fine. A SORN car: only to a booked test, or up to £2,500.
uk-vehicle-tax
A SORN car can be driven only to or from a pre-booked MOT. Expired MOT and tax due: SORN, then tax after a pass. Other use risks a fine of up to £2,500.
uk-vehicle-tax
No. Tax cannot be renewed with an expired MOT unless the vehicle is exempt (form V112). A new pass can take up to 2 days to show on the system.
uk-vehicle-tax
MOT history is free on GOV.UK: results, mileage, failures. Service history comes from the owner and garages, so buyers ask the seller for it separately.
uk-vehicle-tax
A manufacturer can recall a vehicle to fix a safety defect, and the repair is free, but a standard MOT does not generally check for it. The GOV.UK recall service lets you see whether a vehicle has an outstanding recall. Here is how it works.
uk-vehicle-tax
GOV.UK MOT history shows mileage at every test since 2005, so a drop stands out. Report suspected clocking via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline, 0808 223 1133.
uk-vehicle-tax
Free GOV.UK MOT history shows a car's results since 2005: mileage, failures, advisories and next due date. Only the registration number is needed.
uk-vehicle-tax
Motorcycle MOT: due at 3 years, maximum £29.65 (£37.80 with sidecar). Tyres need 1.0mm tread across three-quarters of the width, or it is a dangerous fail.
uk-vehicle-tax
HGVs take an annual test, first due 12 months after registration. Fees: £91 (2 axles), £113 (3), £137 (4+). Test history from 2018 is on GOV.UK.
uk-vehicle-tax
A new car needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of registration. Taxis, ambulances and 9+ seat vehicles from 1 year. Check MOT expiry free on GOV.UK.
uk-vehicle-tax
MOT can be done up to a month minus a day early and keep the date: 15 May expiry, from 16 April. Earlier tests move the date. Free GOV.UK reminders.
uk-vehicle-tax
Replace a lost MOT certificate free on GOV.UK (registration + V5C number) or at any MOT centre for up to £10. Mileage errors: centre within 28 days, else DVSA form.
uk-vehicle-tax
GOV.UK sets no standard MOT test time. Owners can watch from a viewing area. Failed cars can get a free retest by the end of the next working day for listed items.
uk-vehicle-tax
An MOT advisory flags wear that is not bad enough to fail. Advisories and minor defects still pass and appear on the free GOV.UK MOT history. 10 common advisories.
uk-vehicle-tax
Steering rack play MOT advisory: excessive free play is a major defect, dangerous if steering is affected. Rack and pinion limit is 13mm at the wheel rim.
uk-vehicle-tax
MOT corrosion advisory: rust noted but not weakening the structure. Significant loss of rigidity is a major defect; corrosion affecting steering or brakes is dangerous.
uk-vehicle-tax
Tyre worn close to legal limit advisory: tread is above 1.6mm but near it. Below 1.6mm across the central three-quarters is a dangerous MOT fail.
uk-vehicle-tax
Brake disc worn MOT advisory explained: significant wear is a major defect, a fractured disc is dangerous, and being below the maker's limit alone is not a fail.
editors-picks
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DVLA licence renewals are taking longer than the three-week target in 2026. Here is what is causing the delays, whether you can drive while waiting, and how to chase your application.
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Write-off categories: A crushed, B shell crushed, S structural (repairable), N non-structural (repairable). DVLA won't re-register A or B. Tell DVLA or face £1,000.
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askMID checks insurance on the Motor Insurance Database: own vehicle free, another vehicle £10. Rebranding to Check Their Vehicle on 7 December. Tax and MOT: free on GOV.UK.
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Check SORN status free on DVLA's vehicle enquiry service. A SORN can't pass to a new keeper, and the car can only be driven to a pre-booked MOT (else up to £2,500).
Tax & HMRC
Vehicles built before 1 January 1977 are exempt from VED in 2026 under the rolling 40-year rule. Exemption is not automatic - you must re-tax the vehicle in the historic class at £0. This DVLA-validated guide explains exactly what qualifies and how to apply.
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You get an automatic VED refund when you sell, SORN, scrap or export a vehicle. Refunds cover full unexpired calendar months only - the current month is never included. This DVLA-validated guide explains exactly how the process works and what to do if it does not arrive.
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You can tax your car without the V5C logbook using your V11 reminder reference or the new keeper supplement. This DVLA-validated guide explains every route, how to apply for a replacement V5C (£25), and what to do if your V5C is lost in the post.
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Electric cars lost their VED exemption from 1 April 2025. In 2025/26 EVs pay £10 first-year rate then £195 standard rate annually. From April 2026 most EVs also pay the expensive car supplement. This guide has every validated DVLA rate.
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A SORN lasts indefinitely since December 2013 - not 12 months. This DVLA-validated guide covers storage rules, the single exception allowing road use, the VED refund process, and how to avoid a fine of up to £2,500.
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