Car
When is my MOT due? How to check it in a minute
Your MOT due date is the expiry date printed on your current MOT certificate, and you can look it up online in under a minute with nothing but your registration number.
In short: cars in Great Britain need their first MOT three years after first registration, then a test every year. The free MOT history service on GOV.UK shows the exact expiry date for any vehicle.
Check your MOT due date online
Open the GOV.UK service 'Check the MOT status of a vehicle', type the registration number and you will see the current expiry date, plus the history of past tests and any advisories.
The date shown is the day the current certificate runs out. Driving without a valid MOT is an offence, and insurance can be affected too, so treat that date as a hard stop rather than a suggestion.
- GOV.UK MOT history check: https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history
- You need only the registration number — no login, no fee
- Northern Ireland uses a different service for MOT records
When is the first MOT due?
Most cars and motorcycles need their first MOT three years after the date of first registration, then once every year. Some vehicle types (for example certain taxis and minibuses) are tested from one year old, and most vehicles built more than 40 years ago are exempt but must still be kept roadworthy.
How early can you test without losing the date?
You can have the MOT done up to one month minus one day before the expiry date and keep the same anniversary date the following year. Test earlier than that and the new certificate runs twelve months from the test day, so you quietly lose the days you had left.
Bring the current certificate or ask the garage to note the existing expiry so the date is preserved.
Set the reminder so it never gets close
The practical trick is a reminder about three to four weeks before expiry: long enough to get a slot at your usual garage, and inside the window where the date is preserved.
GOV.UK offers a free text or email MOT reminder. If you would rather have every vehicle date in one place — MOT, tax, insurance, service — a reminder on your phone that repeats every year does the same job for all of them.
- MOT: reminder three to four weeks before the expiry date, repeating yearly
- Vehicle tax: reminder two weeks before, repeating yearly or monthly
- Insurance renewal: reminder three to four weeks before, so you can compare quotes
- Service: reminder by date or when the mileage is close
What if the MOT has already run out?
If the certificate has expired you cannot drive the car on the road, with two exceptions: driving to a pre-booked MOT test, or to a garage for repairs. Book the test first, then drive straight there.
After a failure you may only drive away if the current certificate is still valid and no 'dangerous' defect was recorded.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check when my MOT is due?
Use the free GOV.UK MOT history service and enter your registration number. It shows the expiry date of the current certificate, the test history and any advisories.
How long before the MOT expires can I get it tested?
Up to one month minus one day before the expiry date. Test within that window and next year's date stays the same; test earlier and the new certificate runs twelve months from the test date.
When does a new car need its first MOT?
Most cars in Great Britain need their first MOT three years after first registration, then annually. A few vehicle types are tested from one year old.
Can I drive without a valid MOT?
No, except when driving to a pre-booked MOT test or to a garage for repairs. Otherwise it is an offence and your insurance may be affected.
Can MiRicordi remind me about my MOT?
Yes. You can save the expiry date once, choose how far in advance you want to be told, and set it to repeat every year. The alert arrives even when the app is closed.