The three-year rule
Your car's first MOT is due three years after it was first registered, or four years in Northern Ireland. After that it's due every year. You can book it up to a month early, minus a day, and keep the same renewal date.
The number plate gives a rough clue to age. March plates carry the year's last two digits, so a 24 plate means March 2024. September plates add 50, so a 74 means September 2024. The newest is the 76 plate, from 1 September 2026, and the 27 plate follows from 1 March 2027. Treat the plate as a clue, not proof. A private plate can make a car look older, never newer. Q plates mean the car's age or identity can't be confirmed.
Check the MOT history for the car's real first test and the mileage at each one. Our free check shows this by registration. If the plate and paperwork don't match, ask the seller why, because wrong or misleading plates can bring a fine of up to £1,000.
Finding your due date
A car's first MOT is due three years after its first registration (four in Northern Ireland), then every year. You can take it up to a month early and keep the same renewal date, so set a reminder for a month before the due date. Driving without a valid MOT can bring a fine of up to £1,000, unless you're driving to a booked test or to repairs.
Not sure when a car is due? Start with its MOT history. Records go back to 2005 and show past test dates, results and mileage, so you can see when the car last passed. Our free check brings this up from the registration number.
Then check the V5C logbook against the car. The name and address should match the seller's ID, and the 17-character VIN should match the number on the windscreen and door pillar. The V5C shows the registered keeper, not the legal owner, so don't assume they're the same.
Taking it early
You can book your MOT early and still keep your renewal date. A car's first MOT is due three years after it was first registered, and you can take it up to a month minus a day early. Test early and your renewal date stays where it was, so the next MOT is still due at the same time.
Driving without a valid MOT can cost you up to £1,000. If your MOT has run out, you can't drive the car on public roads unless you're heading to a booked MOT or to repairs. A test costs at most £54.85 for a car, far less than that fine.
Buying a used car? Check the MOT history before you agree a price. You'll see when the next test is due and what was flagged last time. Try our free MOT history check.