For those who don’t know, the MOT is a test carried out on vehicles by authorized garages that are registered with the government. The test checks that your car is roadworthy and safe to drive. If it passes, you’ll get a certificate and can continue driving it; if not, you’ll get a repair notice so you can put the work in before taking it back for another test. The result of this second test will determine whether or not your vehicle is fit enough to pass or not – if it fails again then it won’t be allowed on public roads until the repairs have been made.
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Things to know about the Vehicle MOT
- You can book your MOT today or anyday online on the MOT website. You’ll need to enter your vehicle registration number, the date you want it tested and a postcode. There is also an option to pay by debit or credit card.
- If you’re booking an appointment for a private test centre, you’ll need to provide proof of identity when you book so they can check that the person booking the test is authorised to do so. This can be either a passport or driving licence number.
- Once your vehicle has passed its test, you’ll receive an official certificate from the tester that shows:
- The date of inspection;
- The mileage of the vehicle at the time of inspection;
- The name and address of the garage where it was tested;
- An identification number for each inspected vehicle; and
- A list of any defects found during testing (with details of what work needs doing).
The Vehicle MOT test is a compulsory annual test that all vehicles need to pass before they can legally be used on the road.
Vehicle owners must make sure their vehicle passes an MOT test at least once every 12 months or face a fine of up to £1000.
The purpose of the DVSA MOT certificate is to identify any safety issues with your vehicle which may mean it’s not safe to drive. It also helps identify any roadworthiness issues which could lead to further damage or injury if not addressed.
Here are some of the most important things to know about how the test works:
Your car must have a valid MOT certificate before it can be used on public roads.
You’ll need to book an appointment for your vehicle using one of our online booking tools or by calling 0300 123 4321, Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday 9am-1pm (excludes Bank Holidays). You can choose from around 4,500 testing stations across the UK.
You’ll need to pay for your MOT using either cash, debit card or credit card when you arrive at your chosen testing station on the day of your appointment (note that this does not apply if you’re bringing a trailer).
