Can You Drive Without an MOT?
Driving without an MOT certificate is dangerous, illegal and can invalidate your car insurance. You should never drive your car without an MOT unless you’re travelling directly to a pre-booked test or to a garage for repairs. Here’s what the law says and the consequences of getting it wrong.
What are the rules?
Many people are confused or unaware of the rules and laws when it comes to MOTs. For example, 53% of drivers in our Roadworthiness Poll* said they didn't know their car’s MOT expiry date.
If you’re unsure of when your MOT due date is, you can use our helpful MOT checker.
MOT rules and driving your vehicle:
- A new MOT certificate is valid for a year. You can renew it up to one month, minus a day, before it expires without losing your renewal date. So, if your MOT is due to expire on 20 March, you can book it in for a test from 21st February, but you’ll keep the same renewal date.
- If your MOT has expired, you can only drive it directly to a garage for an MOT retest or a repair. If you're stopped on the way by police, you must be able to prove that you have an appointment booked at a garage.
- If your car has failed its MOT, you can only continue to drive it if the previous year's MOT is still valid and no dangerous faults were recorded. This could happen if you take your car in for a test a few weeks early, for example. You can still drive it away from the testing centre or garage unless a dangerous defect was found, and then the car must be repaired before it’s driven.
- You shouldn’t need to pay for a retest if the work has been completed by the same garage and the test is done within 10 working days of the original test.
- If you’re caught driving without a valid MOT you could face a fine of up to £1,000 and your vehicle may be impounded.
You can learn more about the MOT rules here.
*Based on Halfords Autocentres YouGov survey carried out in October 2017 from a sample size of over 2,000 adults.
Save on your MOT with Halfords
With the rising cost of living, we’re all looking to save extra money where we can. At Halfords, save up to £29.99 on Your MOT and service when you join Halfords Motoring Club.
Or book the MOT and service bundle together for up to 50% off your MOT!
Introducing the Halfords Motoring Club
Don’t miss out! Join the Halfords Motoring Club today to access a range of amazing benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving, keep you safe and keep you saving.
It’s free to join and you’ll receive money off your MOT, a free car health check and a welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service.
Or choose our Premium membership to unlock exclusive member pricing on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages and Halfords Mobile Experts, as well as a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep moving for less.
With so much to enjoy, this is too good an opportunity to miss!
Join the Halfords Motoring Club today at www.halfords.com/motoring-club.
Join the Halfords Motoring Club
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