When Is My MOT Due? How to Check and What Happens if You Miss It

1 March 2026 · 5 min read

The three-year rule and annual renewals

Your car needs its first MOT when it turns three years old — calculated from the date of first registration, not when you bought it. After that, the MOT runs annually. The certificate expires on the anniversary of the test date, not the anniversary of first registration.

You can book and test up to one calendar month before the expiry date and keep the same renewal month going forward. This means if your MOT is due on 15 August, you can test on 15 July and the next certificate will still run until 15 August the following year — you do not lose any time from the certificate.

How to check your MOT due date

The quickest way is the DVLA free online MOT checker at check-mot.service.gov.uk. Enter your registration number and it shows your current MOT status, expiry date, and a full history of previous tests including every pass, fail, and advisory item going back several years.

Your V5C logbook contains your first registration date if you need to work out when the three-year mark falls on an older car. If you have a service reminder set up with us, we will flag the MOT date before it becomes urgent — just make sure we have your current contact details on file.

What happens if your MOT expires

Driving with an expired MOT is illegal. Beyond a fine of up to £1,000, an expired MOT can also invalidate your car insurance — meaning any claim following an accident may be refused entirely. The only legal exception is driving directly to a pre-booked MOT test appointment.

If your certificate has lapsed, do not drive the car for any other reason until it has passed a new test. Call us on 07494 990846 and we will arrange a test slot as quickly as possible. We carry out MOTs six days a week from the Brierley Hill workshop and can usually fit a booking within a few days.

Book your MOT in Brierley Hill →

Need help with your car?

Talk to the team at Nick and Stefan Motor Works in Brierley Hill — honest advice and a straightforward booking.

Call 07494 990846