15th May 2024
Some people believe there is a two-week grace period after your MOT has expired, thus giving you a leeway period to get your vehicle booked for its MOT. However, the ‘MOT grace period’ is a myth. Ensure you don’t get caught driving without a current MOT by learning more about the MOT grace period in our guide.
Has your vehicle’s MOT recently expired? It’s against the law to be driving on the road without a valid MOT. There’s no official grace period to suggest otherwise. Have you been caught driving without an MOT? You’ll receive a fine of £1,000 and you may have your vehicle impounded.
Driving a vehicle without a valid MOT will invalidate your car insurance. This means you may not be protected if you’re involved in an accident. Get ahead by finding out how early you can MOT your vehicle in our article, and ensure your vehicle is well-prepared for the road.
Although there is no longer a grace period allowed for your MOT, this was permitted during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. At the time, most garages and dealerships had to close their doors. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Authority (DVSA) agreed to a temporary MOT extension period, which applied to vehicles with MOTs due to expire between the 30th March and the 31st July 2020.
Yes, there are a few exceptions. For instance, if you forget to book your annual MOT test and must drive to the garage.
You should be able to drive after your vehicle’s MOT has expired if:
If you notice something wrong with your vehicle before an MOT, get any repairs carried out before the expiry date. This will not only avoid your vehicle failing the MOT test, but it will also avoid the inconvenience of being 'off the road' until your vehicle can be re-tested.
No, if you have pre-booked your appointment after your MOT has recently expired. You must provide evidence of your upcoming MOT booking if pulled over by the police.
Your MOT test certificate is valid for 12 months, so you must book your next MOT before the expiry date. It is a good idea to allow a slight overlap, in case there are any repairs needed that cannot be completed on the day of the test. The earliest you can book your next MOT without changing the date of renewal is up to one month minus one day in advance. For example, if your vehicle's MOT expires on the 27th of July the earliest possible date to book an MOT is on the 28th of June. Merityre’s vehicle registration checker can tell you when your next MOT is due.
We hope this article has dispelled the MOT grace period myth and has made you consider booking your MOT test. You can enter your car’s registration number into our vehicle registration checker to discover when your vehicle’s next MOT is due. Find your nearest Merityre branch online and book your annual MOT test today.