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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.

Your car: due 15 April 2026, so the earliest test that keeps that date is 16 March 2026.

It is a calendar month, not a fixed number of days — a month before 31 March is 28 February, so the earliest test is 1 March.

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.

A vehicle built or first registered more than 40 years ago does not need an MOT, provided it has had no substantial changes in the last 30 years. There is nothing to apply for: the owner declares it on form V112 when taxing the vehicle. Applying is the other rule — the tax exemption — which is a separate DVLA matter.

Northern Ireland: vehicle testing there is run by the DVA, not the DVSA, through its own network of test centres, with its own fees and its own booking system. The dates and the fee cap on this page are the GB ones. The 40-year exemption above is not GB-only — Northern Ireland adopted the same rule on 12 October 2020. Check nidirect if the car is NI-registered.

First MOT due

15 April 2026

Overdue by 151 days. Driving it now risks a fine of up to £1,000 and can invalidate your insurance.

Test from 16 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.

While you are at it

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is a car first MOT due in the UK?
In Great Britain, on the third anniversary of the date it was first registered, and every year after that — the government consulted on moving the first test to four years and decided in 2018 to keep it at three. In Northern Ireland, where testing is run by the DVA rather than DVSA, the first test is not due until the car is four years old.
How early can I get an MOT without losing my renewal date?
Up to one month minus a day before it expires. If your MOT runs out on 15 May, the earliest you can test while keeping that date is 16 April. Test any earlier and your next expiry becomes one year from the test date, so you lose the difference permanently.
How much does an MOT cost in the UK?
In Great Britain the DVSA sets a maximum fee of £54.85 for a class 4 car. It is a cap rather than a set price, so many garages charge less and it is worth ringing round. In Northern Ireland the DVA charges a set £38.00 for a full car test and £29.50 for a retest at its own test centres, so there is no cheaper garage to find.
What happens if I drive without a valid MOT?
You can be fined up to £1,000, and it can invalidate your insurance. The only journeys allowed are to a pre-booked MOT appointment or to a garage for repairs.
Which cars are exempt from the MOT?
A vehicle built or first registered more than 40 years ago does not need an MOT, as long as it has had no substantial changes in the last 30 years. There is nothing to apply for and no decision to wait for: the owner declares it on form V112 (V112G for large vehicles) when taxing the vehicle. The exemption is UK-wide: Northern Ireland adopted the same rule, on the same terms and the same form V112, on 12 October 2020. The historic vehicle tax exemption is a different rule and that one does have to be applied for. Cars under three years old have not yet reached their first test — four years old in Northern Ireland.