# When Is My MOT Due? MOT Due Date Check

> Check when an MOT is due by registration, free: the MOT expiry date from DVSA records, first MOTs at 3 years, testing a month early and reminders.

Enter a registration to see when the MOT runs out, free, and how MOT dates work: first MOTs, testing early and reminders.

## When is my MOT due?

Enter the registration in the search box above. The free check shows the date the vehicle's current MOT expires, from the DVSA record, along with its full [MOT history](https://carcheckup.co.uk/mot-check). That expiry date is your MOT due date: the car needs a new pass before the end of that day.

For a car under three years old there is no MOT yet. Its first MOT is due on the third anniversary of its first registration; the free check shows the month the car was first registered.

## How MOT due dates work

- **First MOT:** cars, vans and motorbikes need their first MOT when they are three years old (four years old in Northern Ireland).
- **Every year after that:** each MOT certificate lasts one year.
- **Test early and keep your date:** you can take the MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date. A car whose MOT runs out on 15 May can be tested from 16 April and the new certificate still runs to 15 May next year.
- **Testing earlier than that** starts a new 12 months from the test date, so you lose the remaining time.
- **Classic cars:** most vehicles made more than 40 years ago and not substantially changed do not need an MOT, but they must still be roadworthy.

## Check the MOT date of a car you are buying

A car with only a few weeks of MOT left will need a test, and possibly repairs, soon after you buy it. Check the due date and the last test's advisories before you agree a price: advisories show what the tester thought would need work soon. Our guide to [MOT advisories](https://carcheckup.co.uk/blog/mot-advisories-explained-what-they-mean-for-a-used-car/) explains what to look for.

## Driving after the MOT due date

Driving without a valid MOT can lead to a fine of up to £1,000, and it can invalidate your insurance. The only exceptions are driving to a pre-booked MOT, or to a garage for repairs needed to pass. You also cannot tax a car that needs an MOT and does not have one; see the [car tax check](https://carcheckup.co.uk/dvla-tax-check).

## Never miss an MOT again

GOV.UK can send a free reminder by text or email a month before the MOT is due. The CarCheckUp app also keeps your cars' MOT and tax dates on your phone and reminds you before each one is due.

## MOT due date FAQs

**How do I check my MOT due date?** Enter the registration above. The free check shows the MOT expiry date from the DVSA record for any vehicle tested in Great Britain.

**Is the MOT due date on the V5C log book?** No. The V5C shows the date of first registration, from which the first MOT date follows, but not the current MOT expiry. The last MOT certificate and the free check show it.

**Can I get an MOT more than a month early?** Yes, but the new certificate then runs for 12 months from the test date, not from the old expiry date.

**What happens if my MOT runs out?** The car must not be driven on the road except to a pre-booked MOT or for repairs needed to pass. Book a test as soon as you can.

**Does a new car need an MOT?** Not until it is three years old (four in Northern Ireland). The free check shows when it was first registered, so you can work out the date.

**Is my MOT date the same as my tax date?** No. MOT and vehicle tax run separately and usually have different dates. The free check shows both.

Run the check: enter a UK registration or VIN at https://carcheckup.co.uk/mot-due-date-check (free: DVLA details, MOT history and mileage readings; finance, write-off, stolen, keeper records and the mileage anomaly check are in the full report). HTML page: https://carcheckup.co.uk/mot-due-date-check