Is My Car MOT'd?

Is My Car MOT’d?

For your car to be legally out on the roads, it needs to be MOT’d regularly to ensure that your car meets UK safety and environmental standards.

If you drive without a valid MOT certificate in the UK then be aware that it is classed as a criminal offence, and you could be hit with a fine of £2,500 as well as three penalty points on your license and potentially even a driving ban. Not only that, but it could make your insurance agreement invalid too.

What Is An MOT?

If you’re unaware, an MOT is essentially an annual health check-up for vehicles that ensures they are roadworthy, as well as meeting environmental and exhaust emissions standards.

Qualified testers will put your car through its paces to ensure that it is safe to be on the roads. There are around 21,000 MOT test centres in the UK, which can be identified by a blue sign with three white triangles.

How Do I Know If My Car Has Been MOT’d?

If your car is less than three years old and is considered to be new, you won’t need to get an MOT for it just yet.

If it’s older than three years, the easiest way to check whether your car has got a valid MOT would be to look at the paperwork. If everything is in order, you should have a valid MOT test certificate, which will tell you the date in which the MOT test took place, whether your car passed, and when the current MOT is due to expire.

Alternatively, if you don’t have the relevant paperwork or you don’t know where it is, you can use online websites such as gov.uk/check-mot-status which will tell you if your vehicle has a valid MOT certificate and if so, the date in which it is due to run out.

All you’ll need to do is to enter your car’s registration plate number and the site will do the rest. These sites can also provide you with a full MOT history, including passes, fails and any issues.

When Should I Get An MOT?

If the vehicle is over three years old, an MOT test will be needed within 12 months of the previous MOT date, which can be found using either the paperwork or the online MOT checker.

What Will Be Checked During The MOT?

As part of the MOT test, the following parts of your car will be inspected:

-         Body and structure

-         The fuel system

-         Doors, bonnet, and mirrors

-         Exhaust and emissions

-         Tyres, wheels and brakes

-         The boot

-         Seat and seatbelts

-         Registration plates

-         Steering and suspension

-         Battery and the electric system

-         Lights

-         Windscreen and washers

Can I Drive My Car If It Fails The MOT?

If dangerous problems were found in your car’s most recent MOT and it caused the vehicle to fail the test, you’ll have to make sure that any issues are fully repaired before it will be fit to drive again.

If you don’t repair the issue and are driving the car out on the UK roads, you can find yourself in extremely hot water. As mentioned, you can be fined up to £2500, get three points on your licence and even be banned from driving in some cases.

Can I Sell A Car That Has Failed An MOT?

If your car has failed an MOT, you can still legally sell the car even without a valid MOT, as long as you clearly outline to the buyer that this is the case. You can use the GoodBye Car online car valuation tool to see how much you can get for your vehicle today.

It’s quick and easy, simply enter your vehicle registration number and you’ll get a free and instant valuation emailed to you within a matter of minutes.