MOT Due Date Checker
Work out exactly when a car's MOT is due, and the earliest you can test it without losing your renewal date. A car's first MOT is due on its third birthday, then every year after.
On the V5C logbook. The first MOT falls on the third anniversary of this date.
The one-month rule worth knowing
You can take the test up to a month minus a day before it expires and keep the same renewal date. Test it any earlier than that and your new expiry runs a year from the test date instead — quietly costing you weeks of cover every time you do it.
If your MOT runs out on 15 May, the earliest you can test while keeping that date is 16 April. Test on 10 April and your next MOT is due 10 April the following year — you have just thrown away five days, every year, forever.
What it costs, and what it costs not to
Maximum MOT fee (car)
£54.85
A legal cap set by the DVSA. Plenty of garages charge less — it is worth ringing round.
Fine for no valid MOT
up to £1,000
You may only drive to a pre-booked test or to a garage for repairs.
Vehicles over 40 years old can apply for historic vehicle MOT exemption, provided they have not been substantially modified.
First MOT due
15 April 2026
Overdue by 106 days. Driving it now risks a fine of up to £1,000 and can invalidate your insurance.
Test from 17 March 2026
The earliest you can go while keeping 15 April 2026 as your renewal date.
Check a real car's MOT history
The DVSA publishes every MOT a car has ever had — pass, fail, mileage at each test and every advisory. It is free, and it is the single best thing you can do before buying a used car. Mileage that jumps around between tests is how you spot a clocked car.
You will need the registration number.
For guidance only. Dates are calculated from the information you enter — always confirm a vehicle's actual MOT status on the official GOV.UK service before driving or buying. Rules and fees verified against GOV.UK on 28 July 2026.