How Often Do Cars Need an MOT?
The MOT is one of the most important annual checks a car goes through. For anyone buying a used car, understanding how MOT testing works, and what gaps in a car's test history mean, is essential.
When does a car need its first MOT?
A new car needs its first MOT when it turns three years old. Before that, it is exempt from testing.
This means:
- A car registered in March 2022 needs its first MOT in March 2025
- A car registered in September 2021 needs its first MOT in September 2024
The three-year exemption applies from the date of first registration, not the date of manufacture. Some cars sit on a forecourt for months before being sold, so the registration date on the V5C is the one that matters.
How often after that?
Every year. Once a car has had its first MOT, it requires a new one every 12 months to remain road legal.
Most cars over three years old need a valid MOT at all times to be driven on public roads. The test must be passed and the certificate must be in date. You can book and pass a new MOT up to one month (minus a day) before the current one expires and keep the same renewal date.
Are there any exceptions?
Cars and motorcycles manufactured before 1 January 1980 (rolling forward each year) are exempt from MOT testing. They can still be tested voluntarily, and some owners choose to do so. When buying a classic car, ask whether it has had recent voluntary MOTs or an independent inspection.
Electric vehicles follow the same MOT schedule as petrol and diesel cars. First test at three years, annually after that. The test covers lights, brakes, tyres, bodywork, and steering in the same way. The high-voltage battery system is not tested as part of the standard MOT.
What does an MOT gap tell you when buying a used car?
When you check the MOT history of a car you are considering buying, look at the dates between tests. They should be roughly 12 months apart, every year.
A single extended gap can have innocent explanations: the car was laid up during a medical issue, stored during a long trip abroad, or kept off the road during a restoration. But it can also mean the car was being driven without a valid MOT, which is illegal, or that something was wrong with it that the owner could not afford to fix. Ask the seller for an explanation.
A car that has had several periods without an MOT across its history has either been used illegally on multiple occasions or has had a pattern of being parked up and neglected. Either way, the maintenance history is unreliable and the car's condition over those periods is unknown.
If a car's current MOT expires within a few weeks, factor in the cost and risk of a fresh test before committing. A seller who is not offering to sort a new MOT before sale on a car with one week left may be hoping to avoid disclosing what the next test will flag.
How to check a car's MOT status and history
The DVLA's free vehicle enquiry at gov.uk will confirm whether a car currently has a valid MOT and when it expires. The DVSA's free MOT history checker at check.mot.gov.uk shows the full test history going back to 2005.
The Don't Buy A Lemon Chrome extension pulls this history automatically on every listing you browse, so you can see any gaps, failures, and advisories without leaving the page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive a car with an expired MOT? No, except to drive to a pre-booked MOT test appointment. Driving without a valid MOT is illegal and also invalidates most car insurance policies.
Can you sell a car without an MOT? Yes. There is no legal requirement to have a valid MOT to sell a car. But the buyer cannot legally drive it on the road until a valid MOT is obtained. Factor this into the price if you are buying a car without one.
How long does an MOT take? Most MOTs take 45 minutes to an hour. If the car fails and needs work, the retest can be done the same day or within 10 working days at the same garage for a reduced retest fee.
Can an MOT be done early? Yes. You can get an MOT up to one month minus one day before the current one expires and keep the same renewal date. So if your MOT expires on 15 June, you can test from 16 May and the new certificate will still run to 15 June the following year.