AIPlateChecker← Check a car

Free tool

When is my MOT due?

Enter a UK reg to see the MOT expiry date, how many days are left, the current tax status and the result of the last test.

No app. No sign-up. Just type a reg.

What happens if your MOT has expired

Once the certificate runs out you can only drive the car to a test you have already booked, or to a garage for repairs that test needs. There is no grace period. Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine, and because most insurance policies require a roadworthy car, a claim can be refused too. If the car has also been declared off the road (SORN), it must be taxed before it goes back on a public road.

Book early and keep your date

You can have the test up to a month, minus a day, before the current certificate expires and keep the same renewal date. Testing earlier than that works too, but the new certificate runs from the new test date. Booking a few weeks ahead leaves time for repairs and a free retest at the same garage if something fails.

See the full MOT history and AI condition score

The due date is one line. The free MOT history check shows every test, advisory, failure and recorded mileage since 2005, with an AI condition score and a repair cost estimate for what is outstanding.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive with an expired MOT?+
Only to a pre-booked MOT test, or to a garage for repairs needed for a booked test. There is no grace period: the day after the expiry date you can be fined for driving without an MOT, and many insurers treat cover as invalid.
How early can I get an MOT?+
Up to a month, minus a day, before the current certificate expires, and you keep the same renewal date. Testing earlier than that moves the renewal date forward to the new test.
Does a new car need an MOT?+
Not until its third anniversary. A car registered on 10 September 2023 needs its first MOT by 10 September 2026, then every year after that.

Last updated September 2026.