Motorists at risk of being hit with a fine of up to £2,500 are being urged to get in touch with the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). In Britain, all vehicles over three years old must undergo an annual MOT test to ensure they comply with safety and environmental standards.
Apart from a handful of exceptions, it’s illegal to drive a motor without a valid MOT certificate obtained after successfully completing the test. Official guidance warns that you could be slapped with a fine of up to £1,000 for driving a motor that lacks a valid MOT. However, if it is also determined that the motor is unfit for road use, you could receive a penalty of up to £2,500 along with three points on your licence.
Posting on X (formerly known as Twitter), the DVSA said: “Were you one of the millions of people who took your car late for its MOT last year? We can help!”.
“Sign-up to DVSA’s free MOT reminder service and you won’t need to worry about missing your car’s MOT anniversary again.”
When you should book you car in for an MOT
Typically, you need to arrange your motor for an MOT by either its third anniversary of registration or the anniversary of its previous MOT if it’s over three years old. Nevertheless, if you want to get ahead of the date, you can receive an MOT up to a month minus a day before the MOT is set to run out while still keeping the same renewal date.
For instance, if your MOT expires on May 12, you can get it on April 16 to maintain the same renewal date for next year. The DVSA’s complimentary service offers motorists the opportunity to receive a free MOT reminder via text or email.
Receiving an MOT reminder
Once registered online, you’ll be sent a reminder one month prior to your car, van or motorcycle requiring its MOT. Conversely, lorries, buses and large trailers will be reminded two months before their MOT is due.
To sign up, simply input your vehicle’s number plate along with the email address or phone number where you wish to receive the reminder. You also have the option to unsubscribe from the service when it’s no longer needed, for instance if you’ve sold the vehicle or it’s been written off.
In certain instances, the reminder service can also inform you if your vehicle has been recalled for safety reasons.
