
What Do I Do If My MOT Fails?
If your car fails its MOT, check which type of defect caused it before you do anything else. A dangerous defect means you can’t drive

If your car fails its MOT, check which type of defect caused it before you do anything else. A dangerous defect means you can’t drive

An MOT is a legal test that checks whether your car is safe and legal to drive right now. A service is maintenance that keeps

You can check any UK vehicle’s MOT history for free at gov.uk/check-mot-history — just type in the number plate. No login, no logbook, no paperwork

The MOT test itself hasn’t changed for 2026 — what’s changed is who’s allowed to carry it out. From 9 January 2026, the DVSA introduced

The most a garage can legally charge you for a car MOT is £54.85, but most UK garages charge between £30 and £45. The test

A standard MOT test takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour for most cars. If your car passes with no issues, you can drive away

Go to gov.uk/check-mot-history and enter your vehicle’s registration number. You’ll instantly see your MOT expiry date for free. Alternatively, check the expiry date printed on

You can take your MOT up to one month minus one day before your current certificate expires. Do it within that window, and your renewal

In Great Britain, most vehicles need their first MOT by the third anniversary of their registration date. After that, the test is required every year.

Most tyres last between 20,000 and 40,000 miles, depending on their position on the vehicle, driving habits, road conditions, and how well they are maintained.