When is my MOT due?
Check your MOT due date free in seconds on the official GOV.UK service, then compare and book your next MOT with a trusted local garage near you. No payment online, you pay the garage directly.
Check your MOT date, free
Enter your registration on the official GOV.UK MOT history service to see exactly when your MOT expires, plus all your past results. It is completely free.
Check my MOT on GOV.UKBook your MOT locally
MOT due soon? Enter your postcode to compare trusted local garages and send a booking request in under a minute.
How to check when your MOT is due
- Open the free GOV.UK MOT history service.
- Enter your number plate and continue.
- See the date your MOT expires, along with every previous test and any advisories.
- If it is due soon, compare local garages here and send a booking request.
What your MOT due date means
An MOT is a legal annual check of your car's safety and emissions. Your MOT is valid for one year, and it is against the law to drive once it has expired, apart from driving to a pre-booked test. Getting it done early is easy: you can test up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date, so you are never caught out.
If your car is coming up for its MOT, it is worth comparing a few local garages on price and reviews first. Our guide on how much an MOT should cost explains the £54.85 cap and why many garages charge less, and why cars fail their MOT covers the checks that catch most drivers out.
Common questions
When is my MOT due?
Your MOT is due once a year, on the anniversary of your last MOT. A brand new car needs its first MOT three years after it was first registered, then every year after that. To see your exact date, enter your registration on the free GOV.UK MOT history service, which shows your expiry date and all your past results.
How do I check when my MOT is due?
The quickest way is the official GOV.UK MOT history service. Enter your number plate and it shows the date your MOT expires, plus every previous test, for free. Once you know the date, you can compare local garages and book your next MOT here in under a minute.
When does my MOT expire?
Your MOT expires on the date shown on your MOT certificate, one year after the test was passed. Driving after that date without a valid MOT is against the law, apart from driving to a pre-booked test. Check your exact expiry date free on GOV.UK.
Can I drive if my MOT has run out?
No. It is illegal to drive a car with an expired MOT, and you can be fined up to £1,000. The only exceptions are driving to a pre-booked MOT test or to a garage for repairs already arranged. If yours is due or overdue, book an MOT with a local garage as soon as you can.
How early can I get my MOT done?
You can have your MOT up to one month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date. So if your MOT expires on the 30th of a month, you can test it from the 1st and still keep the 30th next year. Getting it done early avoids any risk of driving on an expired certificate.
How much should an MOT cost?
The MOT fee is capped by the DVSA at £54.85 for a standard car, and many local garages charge less. See our guide on how much an MOT should cost, then compare garages near you to find a fair price.
More guides: MOT cost · MOT vs service · all car advice · MOT garages in Birmingham
MOT due soon?
Compare trusted local garages and book your MOT in under a minute. Free to use, pay the garage directly.
Find a garage near you