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MOT Check: Is the Certificate Valid and When Does It Expire?

Enter a registration to see if the MOT is valid, the expiry date and how many days are left. Free, instant and based on official DVSA data.

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An MOT check tells you one thing quickly: whether a vehicle currently has a valid MOT and the date it runs out. Type a registration number into the checker above and MOT Check Now returns the status held by DVLA, the expiry date, and the number of days remaining. This page is about that current position: what each status means, what to do about it, and how to use the date to book a test without wasting any of your certificate. If you want to see every test the vehicle has ever had, the MOT history page covers that.

People search for this in different ways: some type “MOT check”, others “MOT status check”, “DVLA MOT check” or “check MOT and tax”. They all want the same record, which is why this one checker answers every version. If you also want the tax position for the same registration, run the car tax check, or use the reg check for make, fuel and colour.

Quick answers

  • What does the check tell me? Whether the MOT is valid today, the expiry date and the number of days left.
  • Where does it come from? The DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service, the same record the government holds.
  • Is it free? Yes, with no account needed.
  • When can I book to keep my date? From one month minus one day before expiry.
  • What if it says Not valid? Drive only to a pre-arranged test or a repair. Driving without a valid MOT risks a fine of up to £1,000.
  • Does Valid mean the car is sound? No. It means it passed the minimum standard on the day of the test.
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Key facts at a glance

Item Detail
Status values Valid, Not valid, No details held by DVLA, No results returned
First MOT By the third anniversary of registration, then every 12 months
Earliest test that keeps your renewal date One month minus one day before expiry
Test earlier than that New certificate runs one year minus a day from the pass date
Maximum fee, car £54.85, no VAT charged
Maximum fee, motorcycle (no sidecar) £29.65
Typical time for a car test Roughly 45 to 60 minutes
Penalty for no valid MOT Fine of up to £1,000, with exceptions
Penalty for driving with a dangerous defect Up to £2,500, a driving ban and 3 penalty points
Rules source GOV.UK and DVSA
02

How to check MOT status and expiry date

  1. Get the registration number. It is printed on the number plates. If you own the car, it is also on the V5C logbook.
  2. Enter it in the checker. Capital letters and spaces make no difference.
  3. Read the status first, then the date. The status tells you whether the vehicle is covered today. The expiry date tells you how long that lasts.
  4. Look at the days remaining. This is the quickest way to judge urgency, particularly when you are checking a car you are about to buy.

The check works for cars, motorcycles, vans and other vehicles that need an MOT. It uses the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service for the status and expiry date, so you see the same position the DVLA holds. You can also use the official service at GOV.UK. This site is independent and has no connection to the DVLA or DVSA.

Many people search for a “DVLA MOT check” and expect a form from the DVLA. The DVLA publishes the data, and independent sites such as this one display it. The numbers and dates are the same, so the useful question is how clearly the result is explained and what you can do with it.

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What the MOT status values mean

The status field has four possible values. Each means something different, and two of them are often misread.

Status What it means What to do
Valid The DVLA record shows a current MOT certificate. Note the expiry date and plan your next test inside the one-month window.
Not valid The record shows no current MOT, for example because the last one has expired. Do not drive except to a pre-arranged test or a repair. Book a test.
No details held by DVLA DVLA has no MOT record for the vehicle. Check the registration. If it is correct and the vehicle is new, an MOT may not be due yet.
No results returned The lookup did not return a result. Re-enter the registration and try again. If it persists, check the full history.

When the status is Valid

A valid status means the vehicle has a current certificate. It does not mean the vehicle is in good condition today, because the certificate reflects the day it was tested. If you are buying, a valid MOT with six months left is useful, but the advisories on that test matter more than the status. Open the full history and read them.

When the status is Not valid

Not valid means the vehicle should not be on the road, with two exceptions. You can drive to a pre-arranged MOT test, and you can drive to or from a place where repairs are being carried out. Driving without a valid MOT can bring a fine of up to £1,000. Read driving without an MOT before you take a chance on a short trip.

If the vehicle failed its most recent test and is marked not valid, see what to do after a failed MOT. The rules about driving away depend on whether the old MOT is still running and whether any defect was marked dangerous.

When the status says No details held by DVLA

This is the status that causes the most confusion. It does not necessarily mean something is wrong. A vehicle has no MOT record if it has not yet reached the age when a test is due, and some vehicles do not need an MOT at all. Tractors and some historic vehicles first registered more than 40 years ago are exempt, and the exempt vehicles guide explains who qualifies. It can also mean you mistyped the registration, so check each character, especially similar ones such as 0 and O, or 1 and I.

If you are looking at a used car described as having a long MOT that returns this status, treat the mismatch as a serious question for the seller.

When the status says No results returned

This means the lookup did not produce a record. Typing errors are the usual cause. Try again with the registration exactly as shown on the plate. If you still get no result for a registration you know is right, test the vehicle in the vehicle check to see whether the basic vehicle record loads.

04

How MOT due dates work

New vehicles

A new car needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration. After that, it needs one every 12 months. Some vehicle types need their first test at one year. Until the first test is done, there is no expiry date to display, and the status may show no details. The first MOT guide explains the dates in more detail.

The one-month-early rule

You can have the test up to one month minus one day before the expiry date and keep the same renewal date. For example, if your MOT expires on 15 May, the earliest test that keeps the same renewal date is 16 April. The new certificate then runs to 15 May the following year.

If you test earlier than that, the new certificate runs for one year minus a day from the date you pass, and you lose the remaining time on the old one. Our guide on how early you can get an MOT sets out how this works in practice.

Use the days remaining figure to find your window. Subtract one month from the expiry date, add one day, and book a test on or after that date. Anything earlier costs you time you have already benefited from.

After a pass, after a lapse

If you pass inside the window, your renewal date stays the same. If your MOT has already expired and you pass, the new certificate runs for one year minus a day from the date of the pass, which becomes your new yearly date. A lapse therefore changes the date your reminder falls on.

05

How to find your MOT expiry date

  • Use the checker on this page. Enter the registration and read the expiry date.
  • Check the last pass certificate. It shows the expiry date if you kept it.
  • Read the history. Each test row in the history records the expiry date set by that test, which helps you see how renewal dates have shifted over the years.
  • Set up a reminder. The MOT reminder tool exists so you do not have to repeat the check each year.
06

Using the result to book your test

  1. Find the earliest date that keeps your renewal. That is one month minus one day before expiry.
  2. Book a slot a few days before the expiry date, not on it. If the vehicle fails, you will want time to repair and retest.
  3. Know the maximum fee. A car costs up to £54.85 and a motorcycle without a sidecar costs up to £29.65. Garages may charge less. See MOT cost for other vehicle classes.
  4. Do the simple checks first. Lights, wipers, washer fluid, tyres and the horn are quick to look at, and avoidable failures cost you a retest.
  5. Allow time. A car test takes roughly 45 to 60 minutes.

Retests can be free or cheaper in some circumstances. If you leave the vehicle at the test centre for repair and it is retested within 10 working days, the partial retest is free. If you return to the same centre by the end of the next working day for a limited list of items such as lights, mirrors, doors, seatbelts and wipers, the retest is also free. Taking the vehicle away for repair and returning within 10 working days gets a reduced partial-retest fee. After that, the full fee applies.

07

Worked examples: calculating your booking window

The one-month rule is easy to state and surprisingly easy to get wrong when a date falls at the start or end of a month. The method is always the same: take the expiry date, go back one calendar month, then add one day. The examples below use invented dates.

Expiry date on the check Earliest test that keeps the date If you pass inside the window, new expiry
15 May 16 April 15 May the following year
1 March 2 February 1 March the following year
10 October 11 September 10 October the following year
30 June 31 May 30 June the following year

Now compare what happens if you ignore the window. With an expiry of 15 May, passing on 1 April means the new certificate runs for one year minus a day from 1 April, so it ends on 31 March the following year. You have lost about six weeks. Passing on 3 June after a lapse gives a certificate that ends on 2 June the following year, and for the days between 15 May and 3 June the car had no valid MOT.

MOT early test window example Calendar-style example: an MOT expiring on 15 May can be tested from 16 April and keep the same renewal date; earlier than that resets the renewal date. The early MOT window Example: MOT expires on 15 MayToo earlyrenewal resetsTest windowone month minus one dayExpiredAPR16Earliest test dateMAY15MOT expires16 April to 15 MayTest in this window and therenewal date stays 15 May.Before 16 AprilRenewal resets to one yearminus a day from the newpass date.Source: GOV.UK
How early you can test and keep your renewal date
08

Reading the result in the context of the vehicle

A status on its own is a fragment. Read it together with three other facts from the same lookup.

  • Vehicle age. Year of manufacture and the month of first registration tell you whether a first MOT is due yet. A car registered two years and eight months ago has no MOT because none is needed, not because something is wrong.
  • Tax status. If the vehicle is untaxed or on SORN, the MOT position matters less in the short term, because it should not be on the road at all. See the SORN check.
  • Make, colour and fuel type. Confirm they match the vehicle. This guards against a mistyped registration and flags a plate that has been swapped between vehicles.
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Special cases

Brand new and nearly new vehicles

Until the third anniversary of registration, a car has no expiry date. The status may read No details held by DVLA and the days remaining figure will be empty. The first MOT guide shows how to count the three years and which vehicle types differ.

Exempt vehicles

Tractors, electric goods vehicles registered before 1 March 2015, and some historic vehicles are exempt. A historic vehicle qualifies if it was built or first registered more than 40 years ago and has not been substantially changed, for example by replacing the chassis, body, axles or engine so that it works differently. Lorries, buses and trailers are not exempt; they have an annual test of their own instead of an MOT. An exempt vehicle must still be roadworthy. The exempt vehicles guide has the detail.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland MOTs are run by DVA, a separate service. NI tests do not appear in the DVSA history, so the information for a Northern Ireland vehicle may be incomplete here. The Northern Ireland MOT guide explains how to check a vehicle there.

Imported vehicles

A newly imported vehicle has no UK MOT record until it is tested here. Check the make, model, colour and dates against the V5C. When a particular import needs its first UK test depends on the vehicle, so confirm it on GOV.UK rather than assuming.

Personalised plates

The checker treats a private plate like any other registration. If a plate has been transferred, the record can look unfamiliar, so use the make and colour match as your check, and ask for the V5C. The number plate guide explains plate styles and why spacing and format matter.

Vehicles on SORN or kept off the road

A vehicle declared off the road can have an expired MOT without breaking any rule, provided it stays off the road. The problem starts when it is used again. Tax it, and make sure it has a valid MOT before it goes on the public road, except for a drive to a pre-arranged test.

10

What the penalties actually are

The figures below come from GOV.UK. They are maximums, not automatic sums.

Situation Consequence
Driving without a valid MOT Fine of up to £1,000
Driving to a pre-arranged MOT test, or to or from a repair Allowed
Driving a vehicle with a dangerous defect Fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban and 3 penalty points
Driving an uninsured vehicle that is not on SORN £100 fixed penalty for the registered keeper, court fine up to £1,000, and the vehicle can be clamped, taken away or destroyed

Insurers may also treat a missing MOT as a problem when you make a claim, so read your policy wording. Our guide to driving without an MOT goes through the rules in plain English.

11

Fees, retests and complaints

The maximum MOT fee depends on the vehicle type. A car is capped at £54.85 and a motorcycle without a sidecar at £29.65. A motorcycle with a sidecar and a three-wheeler up to 450kg are both capped at £37.80, and a goods vehicle up to 3,000kg is £54.85. These caps include no VAT because none is charged. The full table is in the MOT cost guide.

Maximum MOT test fees Bar chart of maximum MOT fees: motorcycle 29.65 pounds, motorcycle with sidecar 37.80, car 54.85, goods vehicle up to 3,000kg 54.85, 9 to 12 seat passenger 57.30, goods vehicle 3,000 to 3,500kg 58.60. No VAT, garages may charge less. Maximum MOT fees What a garage can charge at mostMotorcycle£29.65Motorcycle with sidecar£37.80Car (up to 8 seats)£54.85Goods up to 3,000kg£54.859–12 seat passenger£57.30Goods 3,000–3,500kg£58.60Maximum fees: no VAT is charged.Garages may charge less. Repairs are not part of the cap.Source: GOV.UK
Maximum MOT fees set by the government, by vehicle type

If you think a failure was wrong, you can appeal to DVSA. For a failed vehicle, the complaint form must be sent within 14 working days. Before you do, read the defect wording in the history and the MOT defect categories guide so you understand exactly what was recorded.

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What this check shows and what it cannot

Shows Does not show
MOT status held by DVLA Whether the vehicle is mechanically sound today
Expiry date and days remaining Insurance status
Tax status and due date alongside the MOT Finance, stolen or write-off records
Basic vehicle details to confirm identity Keeper or owner details
13

What to do next, depending on the result

14

Check MOT and tax together

MOT and vehicle tax are separate obligations with separate dates, and the same registration lookup shows both. A vehicle may be taxed with no MOT, or have an MOT with no tax, and each leaves you open to different penalties. Tax is not transferred when a vehicle is sold, so a buyer must tax it before driving. Run the car tax check alongside this one, and use the SORN check if the tax status says the vehicle is declared off the road.

15

Common mistakes when checking MOT status

  • Reading Valid as a clean bill of health. It is a pass on a past date. The defects recorded on that test are in the history.
  • Booking too early. Testing more than a month before expiry throws away time you have already paid for.
  • Booking on the last day. One failed item and you are driving illegally, or off the road.
  • Ignoring the days remaining on a used car. A vehicle with a few days left is about to cost the new owner a test fee, and any repairs it needs.
  • Treating a no-details result as a fault with the site. Check the registration, the vehicle age and whether the vehicle is exempt first.
  • Confusing MOT status with a taxed or insured status. The MOT status does not tell you either.
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Limits of this check

The status and expiry date come from DVLA and are only as current as that record. If a test was completed very recently, the record may take time to update, so check again later before you assume the worst. The status says nothing about the vehicle’s condition, nothing about insurance, and nothing about outstanding finance. The Full Vehicle Report does not cover finance, stolen or write-off checks either, because that data is not available from the free official sources.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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If the date does not match your paperwork

Occasionally the expiry date on screen differs from the date on a paper certificate or a garage’s text message. There are a few ordinary explanations, and it is worth working through them before you worry.

  1. The test was very recent. A record can take a short time to update after a test. Check again later in the day or the next day.
  2. You tested early. If you passed before the one-month window, the new expiry is one year minus a day from the pass date, which will not be the date you expected.
  3. You are looking at an old certificate. A previous year’s paperwork shows the previous year’s date.
  4. The registration is not the one you think. A transposed character can bring up a different vehicle. Check the make and colour on the result.
  5. The vehicle was tested in Northern Ireland. That sits in a different system.

If none of these explains it and the record still looks wrong a few days after a test, ask the test centre to confirm the test was recorded, and use the official service on GOV.UK to compare.

18

Checking a vehicle you do not own

You do not need to own a vehicle to check its MOT status. The record is about the vehicle, not the person, and no personal details appear. That makes the check useful in several situations.

  • Before buying privately. Check the registration from the advert before you travel. If the seller says the MOT runs until autumn and the record says it expired in spring, you have saved a journey.
  • When a vehicle is lent to you. If a friend or relative hands you the keys, a quick check confirms the car is legal to drive.
  • When managing several vehicles. Small fleets and families with more than one car can check each registration in turn. The car watchlist is designed for keeping track of vehicles you care about.
  • When selling. Checking your own listing against the record avoids a buyer finding a mismatch first.
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Why the MOT status matters for more than the law

The legal point is simple: a vehicle used on the road should have a valid MOT. But the status also affects practical decisions. A vehicle with a valid MOT can usually be driven home after purchase without a separate trip to a test centre. A vehicle with only a few days left means the buyer faces a test fee and possibly repairs immediately. A vehicle with an expired certificate cannot be driven away, so a buyer needs to arrange a test or collect it on a trailer. These are the questions the status helps you price into an offer.

For the buyer, the sensible order is: confirm the status, read the history, run the mileage check, then use the used car checklist in person. For the seller, make sure the advert states the expiry date correctly, since a buyer will check it.

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Different vehicles, same check

The status lookup is the same for every vehicle type that needs an MOT, but the details differ slightly. Cars and light vans are covered by the standard class rules, motorcycles have their own lower fee cap, and some vehicle types have special test classes. If you are unsure which class applies, the MOT test classes guide sets them out. For vehicle-specific pages, see the car MOT check, van MOT check and motorcycle MOT check.

Please also remember the basics of what an MOT is. The what is an MOT guide explains it from scratch, and the MOT test checklist lists what testers look at.

Beyond the current status

If your check shows a valid MOT and you are buying the car, the next step is the history. The guide to reading MOT history teaches you to spot recurring faults and gaps. The mileage check compares odometer readings between tests. And if you want everything in one document you can save or share, the Full Vehicle Report packages the lot for £3.99.

Full Vehicle Report (PDF)

Complete MOT timeline, mileage analysis, recurring advisories and a plain-English summary in one downloadable document.

£3.99Get the report
22

Other MOT checks

Need something more specific? Use the car MOT check for cars and the van MOT check for light vans. Riders can use the motorcycle MOT check, and the historical MOT check explains how far back the records go.

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A simple yearly routine

Most MOT problems come from forgetting, not from the test itself. A short routine removes the risk.

  1. The day you pass. Note the expiry date and the first day of the early-test window, which is one month minus one day before it.
  2. Six weeks before expiry. Run the check again to confirm the date, and look at last year’s advisories in the history. Those are your likely repairs.
  3. Four weeks before expiry. Book a slot inside the window, ideally a few days before the date so a retest is possible.
  4. The week before the test. Do the simple checks yourself: lights, wipers, washer fluid, tyres and horn.
  5. After the test. Check the new expiry date appears, keep the paperwork, and start again.

If you change your plans, for example because a garage cancels, the same early-test rule still applies to the rebooked date, so check that the new slot is not later than the expiry date.

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Glossary

  • Expiry date. The last day the current certificate is valid.
  • Days remaining. The count from today to the expiry date.
  • Renewal date. The date your yearly MOT falls due, which can shift if you test early or let the MOT lapse.
  • Partial retest. A retest limited to the items that failed, offered free or at a reduced fee in the circumstances listed above.
  • Dangerous defect. A fault so serious that the vehicle must not be driven.
  • Registered keeper. The person recorded by DVLA as responsible for the vehicle. This information is never shown on a check.

The about page explains who runs this site, and the how we get our data page explains exactly where each field comes from. If anything on a result looks wrong, tell us through the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check my MOT status?

Enter your registration number in the checker on this page. It shows whether the MOT is valid, the expiry date and the number of days left, using the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service. It is free and needs no account.

What does Not valid mean on an MOT check?

It means the DVLA record shows no current MOT, for example because the last certificate has expired. You may only drive the vehicle to a pre-arranged MOT test or to or from a repair. Driving without a valid MOT can lead to a fine of up to u00a31,000.

Why does my MOT check say No details held by DVLA?

DVLA has no MOT record for that registration. Common reasons are a mistyped registration, a vehicle too new to need its first MOT, or a vehicle that is exempt from the test. Check the registration first, then the age and type of the vehicle.

How early can I get an MOT and keep my renewal date?

You can have the test up to one month minus one day before the current certificate expires and keep the same renewal date. If it expires on 15 May, the earliest test is 16 April. Earlier than that, the new certificate runs for one year minus a day from the date you pass.

When is the first MOT due on a new car?

The first MOT is due by the third anniversary of the vehicle's registration, then every 12 months after that. Some vehicle types need their first test at one year. Until then, the vehicle will not have an MOT expiry date.

Is the DVLA MOT check different from this one?

The expiry date and status come from the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service, so the information is the same. This site is independent and not affiliated with the DVLA or DVSA. It also shows the days remaining and links the result to the full test history and mileage analysis.

Can I drive if my car failed its MOT?

You can drive away only if your current MOT is still valid and no dangerous defect was listed on the failed test. If a dangerous defect was found, the vehicle must not be driven, and driving it can bring a fine of up to u00a32,500, a driving ban and 3 penalty points.

Does a valid MOT mean the car is safe to buy?

No. A valid MOT only shows the vehicle met the minimum standard on the day it was tested. Check the advisories and failures in the full history, inspect the car in person and take a test drive before buying.

What is the difference between MOT status and MOT history?

Status is the position today: valid or not, the expiry date and the days left. History is the list of every past test with its result, mileage and defects. This page covers status; the MOT history page covers the records.

What happens to my renewal date if I test early?

If you test earlier than one month minus one day before expiry, the new certificate runs for one year minus a day from the date you pass, so you lose the unused part of the old one. Inside the window, you keep the same renewal date.

Do I need an MOT on a vehicle that is on SORN?

A vehicle declared off the road is not being used on the road, so an expired MOT is not a problem while it stays off it. Before it goes back on the road it needs tax and a valid MOT, apart from driving to a pre-arranged test.

What is the most a garage can charge for a car MOT?

The maximum fee for a car is u00a354.85, with no VAT charged. A motorcycle without a sidecar is capped at u00a329.65. Garages may charge less, and repair costs are not included in the cap.

Can I appeal an MOT failure?

Yes. You can appeal to DVSA, and for a failed vehicle the complaint form must be sent within 14 working days. Read the recorded defects carefully before you do.

More free checks

MOT CheckIs the MOT valid, when does it expire, how many days are left.MOT HistoryEvery test since 2005 with failures and advisories.Car Tax CheckTaxed, untaxed or SORN, and the tax due date.SORN CheckSee whether a vehicle is declared off the road.ULEZ CheckerLondon ULEZ compliance estimate and daily charge.Clean Air Zone CheckerBristol, Birmingham and other UK zones.Mileage CheckOdometer trend and clocking red flags.Vehicle CheckMake, colour, fuel, engine, CO2 and Euro status.MOT ReminderFree email reminder before your MOT runs out.Seller Claim CheckerCheck an advert's mileage, MOT date and details against the record.Advisory TrackerSee which advisories were fixed, ignored or became failures.Compare Two CarsPut two registrations side by side and see which has fewer concerns.Car WatchlistGet an email when a new MOT result or expiry is due for a car.

Need it all in one document?

The Full Vehicle Report gives you the complete MOT timeline, mileage analysis and summary as a PDF you can keep.

Get the report £3.99