If your vehicle is over three years old, it must undergo an annual test to ensure it meets the minimum roadworthiness and emissions standards. The requirements differ for taxis.

• The MOT test confirms, without dismantling, that your vehicle complies with legal environmental and road safety standards.
• An MOT is not a replacement for regular servicing and does not guarantee roadworthiness for the entire period the certificate is valid.
• You can review the official testing guides to see exactly what the MOT test covers.
• You can check the MOT history and status of any vehicle you own or are considering purchasing by entering the make and registration number.
• The status check shows the test date, mileage, expiry, and records of past MOTs dating back to 2005.

What changed in the MOT test from 20 May 2018?

The MOT process changed following an EU directive (2014/45).

Defect Categories

New defect categories – ‘dangerous’, ‘major’, and ‘minor’ – were introduced. Vehicles with a ‘Dangerous’ defect cannot be driven until repaired.

• Dangerous (fail) – Poses an immediate risk to road safety or the environment. Do not drive until repaired.
• Major (fail) – May affect safety, pose a risk, or impact the environment. Requires immediate repair.
• Minor (pass) – No significant safety or environmental impact. Repair at your earliest convenience.
• Advisory (pass) – Could worsen over time. Monitor and repair as needed.
• Pass – Meets minimum legal standards.

Booking an MOT Early

You can book your MOT up to a month before the expiry date and maintain the same renewal date. However, if the vehicle fails:

• Your current MOT remains valid until its expiry date. Driving away from the test does not break the law regarding an expired MOT.

However, ignoring a failed MOT is not an option:

• Driving a vehicle with known defects or in an unroadworthy condition is illegal.
• Penalties include fines of up to £2,500, driving bans, and three penalty points.

Test Changes from 20 May

The MOT testers’ manual was extensively revised alongside the introduction of new defect categories.

Some tests were added, existing checks updated, and a few failure points removed. Key additions include:

New Checks

• Brake fluid contamination
• Daytime running lights
• Front fog lights
• Reversing lamps
• Incompatible light sources – Halogen lamps converted to HID will fail
• Falsified Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN)
• Brake lining/pad wear indicator lights
• Engine malfunction indicator lamp
• Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve
• NOx sensor
• Tampered Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
• Visible smoke from a vehicle with a DPF
• Tighter diesel emission limits for vehicles with DPF
• Fluid leaks (excluding coolant and AdBlue)

Obstructions over 4cm, like fluffy dice on the rear-view mirror, can cause an MOT failure. Mechanics may ask you to remove them beforehand.

Issues That No Longer Result in Failure

Some faults now count as ‘Minor’ and won’t fail the MOT but still require prompt attention. These include:

• Brake fluid below the minimum level
• Brake fluid warning lights
• Indicator flash rates
• One of two number plate lights failing

Historic Vehicles

From 20 May 2018, vehicles over 40 years old no longer require an MOT, provided they haven’t been substantially altered in the past 30 years. You must confirm this during tax renewal and ensure the vehicle remains roadworthy.

More MOT Advice

MOT Costs

• The maximum fee for an MOT, set by the Department for Transport, is currently £54.85 for cars.

MOT Certificates

• The document from the garage is a receipt, not proof of an MOT. The official record is online and linked to all testing stations.

Mileage

MOT certificates display mileage from the last three tests. Always check for accuracy.