Can I Drive a Car Without MOT?

An MOT or the Ministry of Transport test, is for cars that are older than 3 years and needs to happen every year. This is because it tests the car to see whether it’s running optimally and if it’s in a roadworthy condition.

Can you drive without an MOT booked?

It is illegal to drive without a valid MOT so in short no, but you can drive a car without an MOT on two occasions:

1. You are driving to a pre-booked MOT test at an appointment centre
2. You are driving to an approved garage to rectify faults from a failed MOT test

But it must also be stated that if your car fails with a ‘dangerous’ fault you can not drive it anywhere. The only option for a car which has failed with a ‘dangerous’ fault is to have it towed to a garage for repairs or to be towed back to an MOT test centre.

How can I check my MOT?

To check your MOT you need to visit the government website (GOV.UK). Where it will ask for your registration number then you will be supplied with an extensive report on all of the previous MOTs your car has been through.

How long does an MOT last?

An MOT is valid for 1 year, you can find out when it runs out on the government website or if you have a printed MOT certificate you can find the date there. But you do not have to get an MOT test on the exact same day each year.

You are given up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out, therefore if it is due to run out on the 15th of November for example, you can book to have your MOT 16th of October. Or anywhere after the 16th of October up to midnight of the 15th of November.

Where can you park a car without an MOT?

If your vehicle’s MOT has expired, it can’t be parked on a public road. Yet instead has to be parked on private property, such as your driveway or in a garage. This is because if you park or drive a car on public roads it must be taxed, insured and have a valid MOT.

What are the penalties?

Fines

If you are caught driving without an MOT the maximum fine is £1000. However, if you car has received a ‘dangerous’ fault when failing an MOT test the maximum fine is £2500.

Points on your license

You might receive points on your license if caught without a valid MOT on a vehicle with serious or dangerous faults. And you can be given up to 3 points.

Driving ban

This is only applicable if you are caught twice within 3 years, you could receive a six-month driving ban.

How do the police know a car doesn’t have an MOT?

Police cars have ANPR systems (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) which have access to the DVSA’s database which holds every car’s MOT status. After an MOT text, the garage updates the database with the results of the MOT and anyone with a vehicle’s registration plate can access this information. This can be a handy tool when buying a car, as you can see if there are any issues with it before going to see it.

ANPR systems are cameras, therefore they are not just limited to police cars and it is estimated that there are 10,000 ANPR cameras in the UK. They are installed on motorways, main roads and car parks as well as police cars as mentioned previously. Therefore even if you do not pass by a police car without a valid MOT you are still very likely to be caught by one of the cameras.

Where can you get an MOT?

Here at ATD Vehicle Specialist we will MOT your vehicle, we guarantee that we will take the necessary measures to make your vehicle safe and perform to its best! We will let you know the results as we make sure everything is in good working order. If it doesn’t go to plan, we provide courtesy cars so that you aren’t inconvenienced.

What’s included?

We will be checking the following:

• Lighting and Signalling Equipment
• Brakes
• Body and Structure

Why book your MOT with us?

Our garage in Peterborough offers budget-friendly prices whilst having well-experienced and skilled technicians. Our aim is to deliver cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality. Here at ATD Vehicle Specialists we make your car’s MOT a priority due to how important it is to have a valid MOT on your vehicle from a safety and legal standpoint.

To get in contact with us to book your MOT click here.