Check When Your MOT Is Due

MOT Due Date vs MOT Expiry Date

Your MOT due date and MOT expiry date are the same day — the last date your current certificate is valid. After that date, the vehicle is not legally drivable on a public road until it passes a new test. MotR shows this date alongside the days remaining so you can see at a glance how urgent booking is.

MOT Expiry Timeline

A typical countdown to your MOT expiry looks like this:

First MOT Rules

A new car's first MOT is due on the third anniversary of its registration date, then every 12 months. Taxis, private hire vehicles, ambulances and limousines need a first MOT after one year. For imports and used-car timing, see our anniversary and first-MOT guide.

Early Renewal and Anniversary-Date Rules

You can book your MOT up to one calendar month (minus a day) before expiry and the new certificate still runs from the original expiry date — so you keep your anniversary and lose no days. Book earlier than that and the certificate runs from the test date. See the early renewal guide for the full anniversary table.

Practical Tips to Never Miss Your MOT

Data Source and Update Limitations

MotR reads the MOT expiry date directly from DVSA records linked to your registration number — no V5C needed. The date reflects the latest DVSA update. If a test was completed very recently, the record may take a short time to refresh; if a digital record and your paper certificate disagree, the DVSA database is authoritative. You can check any vehicle's due date using only its registration.

What If the MOT Has Already Expired?

There is no grace period after expiry, and driving on a public road with an expired MOT is illegal — with one narrow exception for driving directly to a pre-booked test. For the detail, read our MOT grace-period rules and our guide on what happens when an MOT expires. If you are not using the car, consider declaring it SORN until it is tested.