Do electric cars need an MOT?

Why an electric car is not exempt

GOV.UK’s exemption list includes goods vehicles powered by electricity that were registered before 1 March 2015, tractors and some historic vehicles. It does not list electric cars as a type. The rule that a car needs an MOT by the third anniversary of its registration, and every year after, does not depend on fuel type.

DVSA’s inspection manual for cars has a section on testing electric and hybrid vehicles, with guidance for testers on their high-voltage parts.

What is tested on an electric car

The test covers the same safety items as on any car: brakes, tyres and wheels, lights, steering and suspension, seatbelts, mirrors, the windscreen and wipers, the horn and the vehicle identification number.

The exhaust-emissions part of the test depends on a vehicle’s age and fuel type. The manual’s emissions checks are written for petrol and diesel engines, so there is no exhaust to test on a battery-electric car.

What the MOT does with the battery

The manual says the battery must be inspected on all vehicles, including electric and hybrid ones. It adds that the propulsion battery is unlikely to be accessible and, if it is, should be assessed by eye.

So the MOT looks at the battery’s security and for leaks. It does not measure how much capacity a used electric car’s battery has left.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland’s MOT is run by the DVA, which tests cars from four years old. DVSA’s manual applies to England, Scotland and Wales, and the DVA publishes its own.