Over 8 million vehicles and drivers were at risk of a £1,000 fine in the past year as they were late renewing their MoT, research has revealed.
The study, carried out by specialist motor trade insurance provider ChoiceQuote analysed Freedom of Information data from the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency showing the significant scale of MoT non-compliance on UK roads.
A total of 8,095,207 vehicles were reported to have an overdue MoT in the past year, with over a third (37%) of these being more than a month out of date.
Police can immediately check if an MoT is valid for a vehicle along with current insurance status and the offence can lead to a maximum fine of £1,000.
Over 306,000 vehicles had MoTs between one and five years out of date, while over 36,000 were reported to be between five and ten years overdue!
A lack of driver awareness regarding MoT expiration is apparent in current search trends. Each month 57,550 searches are made on Google for “when does my MoT run out” and a further 13,470 searches are made for “how can I find out if my MoT is due”.
This highlights a considerable risk for UK motorists, as being caught driving a vehicle with an invalid MoT can incur a fine of up to £1,000.
In September 2022, 225,269 new cars and 47,418 vans were registered for the first time so must now be safety tested and have an MoT.
Follow these tips to help ensure your MOT is in date
Book your MOT up to one month before your current MOT expires
By booking your MOT in the allowed window (one month minus a day from the expiry date), you will affectively receive a certificate which is valid for a 13 month period[2]. This will also allow a buffer period in case your car does fail its MOT and requires work to be done before your current MOT expires.
Sign up to receive reminders from the GOV.UK
To ensure that you don’t forget your renewal date, sign up to receive reminders from the UK government. By signing up, you will receive an email or text message 30 days before your MOT is due and a second reminder if the vehicle has still not been tested after the first prompt. All you need to do to sign up is add your vehicle registration number and contact details online.
Keep a record of your MOT booking confirmation in case stopped by police
It is important to keep a record of your MOT booking, especially if your MOT has already expired. While it is illegal to drive a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate, if you are stopped by the police and are on your way to a pre-booked MOT test or pre-arranged appointment for repairs identified in a previous test, your proof of booking will allow you a legal exemption. If you fail to provide this proof, you will be issued a fine.
