Express Tyre & Auto Centre (based in Ossett) is here to help you make sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape. Our MOT Testing is available for all class 4 vehicles, including both petrol and diesel engine vans, cars, campers, light commercial vehicles and 4x4s.
Our staff is highly experienced in testing vehicles both big and small, and you can leave our centre with the comfort of knowing that your car was inspected thoroughly in expert hands.
If you’re looking for a reliable MOT Test in Ossett, look no further than Express Tyre & Auto Centre!
If you have any questions or would like to book your MOT Test, our staff are more than happy to help you. Your MOT fee includes a free retest within 14 days.
We’re located in Ossett, right off Junction 40 of the M1. To book your MOT, give us a call at 01924 582 476 during business hours or you can schedule an appoint with our 24/7/365 online booking forms. We look forward to seeing you!
If you are short on time and want us to call you back to schedule your MOT test at a time that suits you best, please fill out the short form below and one of our team will call you back based on your submitted info.
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MOT Services You Can Trust
Express Tyre & Auto Centre are a VOSA Approved Testing Facility, an AutoMend Approved Member, rated 4.7 out of 5 based on 900+ bookings at WhoCanFixMyCar.com and are also recognised by West Yorkshire Trading Standards as adhering to fair selling practices and providing high levels of customer service, so your car is certainly in safe hands with us.
With hundreds of positive testimonials and a dedication to delivering excellence within our industry, we look forward to showing you why we deserve your business for years to come.
Introduction
Table of Contents
The Ministry of Transport test, more commonly known as the MOT test, is a legal requirement that checks the health of a vehicle. Applicable to owners of motorcycles, cars, and light-goods vehicles in Wakefield, the annual MOT inspection ensures that a vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards.
Is the MOT test mandatory for all vehicles in the UK? No, it is mandatory only for vehicles that are older than three years. So, if you’ve bought your vehicle fresh from the showroom, then you can relax for a couple of years at least. However, if your vehicle is older than three years, then you are required by law to get it tested once a year at an authorised MOT centre.
Several tests will be performed on your vehicle by our Wakefield MOT centre. On passing these tests, your vehicle will receive an MOT certificate which will be valid for the next 12 months. While the cost varies from centre to centre, the maximum fee that an MOT centre can charge for the test is 29.65 for a standard motorbike and £54.85 for a car.
If your vehicle is older than three years and not MOT-certified, then you cannot take it out on the roads. This is illegal and will cost you a fine of up to £1,000. If you want to avoid this, then you must get your car/vehicle tested at an authorised MOT centre near you.
However, to ensure that you’re not caught off guard by the test, find out everything there is to know about the MOT inspection. To make this easy for you, we are going to provide you with all the details that will help you get the most out of the MOT test for your car while keeping costs to a bare minimum. So, let’s begin.
What Does an MOT Test Involve?
The MOT test is carried out to get a snapshot of a vehicle’s health; this is done to see if the vehicle in question is ‘safe enough’ to be driven on the road. This snapshot report depicts the condition of a vehicle, such as a car, on a particular day. It is.
While an MOT certificate gives a safety clearance to a car on a specific day, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the vehicle will be safe for driving on the road a month, six months, or year from the date of the test.
Also, it is important to keep in mind that the MOT test checks the car only for safety-related issues and does not cover mechanical problems with the vehicle. So, an MOT certification does not guarantee a mechanically sound car.
It only ensures that your car is safe to drive on the road. Still, getting your car tested at an authorised MOT centre is important for keeping it on the road and avoiding penalties by the relevant transport authorities.
The test takes no more than 40 minutes to complete and will cost you no more than £54.85 for your car. This is the maximum fee for the MOT test and you can get your car tested for a lot less if you shop around. We will cover this in more detail when we discuss the average costs involved in an MOT test.
When to Take the MOT Test?
One of the most important things to find out about the MOT test is the best time to take it. In other words, you must know when a car needs to be MOT-certified. If you don’t know about it already, then below are some instances when you need to take your car to an authorised MOT centre for testing:
Three years after buying your car or getting it registered
Every 12 months after the first inspection
If you have been driving around in your car without a valid MOT
Law enforcement takes driving without a valid MOT very seriously and anyone found guilty of it can get three penalty points and a fine of up to £2500. The police may fine you for driving without a valid MOT even if you are just driving in an emergency.
This is how serious the offence is. However, the UK government does exempt you from the penalty if you are driving to or from a car repair centre or to a pre-arranged MOT test.
Earliest You Can Get MOT
From the date of the test, an MOT certificate is valid for the next 12 months. The expiry date of the current MOT certificate is printed on the certificate itself. The earliest you can get your car tested again is up to a month, minus a day, before the expiry date of your current certificate.
For example, if you get your car tested on 18th June, the earliest you can get your car tested again to renew your MOT certificate is 17th May. While you can get your car tested before this date, keep in mind that your renewal date for the following year will change to one year (minus a day) from the date of the test.
For example, if you get the MOT test done on 13th May instead of 17th May, then your MOT certificate’s expiry date will be 12th May instead of 17ththe following year.
Booking an MOT Test in Ossett
The UK government requires vehicle owners to book the MOT test with an authorised MOT Centre. This is a major requirement for booking an MOT.
To find an authorised MOT Centre in Wakefield, look for a blue sign with three white triangles outside the MOT Centre. If you find such an MOT Centre, then contact them to book an MOT.
When booking an MOT test, you will need to provide the following information to Centre where the test will be performed:
The registration number of your car
The last four digits of the chassis number
Your debit or credit card details if you are making the booking online or by phone
To understand how your personal information will be handled, you can review the privacy notice provided by the Department for Infrastructure—Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA).
Looking for a reliable MOT Test in Wakefield? Look no further than Express Tyre & Auto Centre! If you have any questions or would like to book your MOT Test (which includes a FREE retest within 14 days), call 01924 582 476 or Book Appointment Online.
How to Prepare for an MOT Test
Is your car about to complete its third anniversary? If yes, then you should start thinking about the MOT test and your car will pass it. Once you’ve owned your car for three years, the MOT test becomes an annual responsibility.
Provided your car passes the MOT test, you will receive a certificate that shows your car meets the safety and environmental standards for being driven on the road. The MOT certificate is important because you won’t be able to pay tax on your car without it.
According to UK law, it is illegal to drive a car that cannot be taxed. Although there are exceptions, your car is unlikely to make the list. So, the next best thing that you can do is prepare the car for an MOT test once it completes three years with you.
How can you prepare for an MOT test? By finding out what testers are looking for, understanding your MOT report, and finally checking things that will be tested during the MOT. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the details of how you can prepare for the MOT test.
Find Out What Testers are Looking For
The first thing that you need to do for preparing your car for MOT is to findout what the tester will be looking for during the test. With the changes to the MOT rules in May 2018, this has become increasingly important.
Even when you have properly maintained your car, this rule can leave you in limbo and with a hefty bill. A test that involves a series of test, the MOT evaluates your care for safety to ensure it is not hazardous for you or anyone else on the road. In the MOT test, safety checks are performed on the following:
In addition to the above, the MOT test may include tests on parts that are only found on newer models of cars. Examples of this are daytime running lights and headlight washers. In short, you need to find out everything that the tester will check your car for during the MOT test. You can get a better idea of this by contacting the MOT centre prior to the test.
Understand Your MOT Report
The classifications of defects in a car were changed after the MOT rules were revised in May 2018. Classifications of car defects range from ‘Dangerous’ to ‘Pass’. The purpose of the new classifications is to eliminate confusion around what causes a car to fail an MOT test and what doesn’t.
Additionally, the new classifications make the process simpler for testers, which ultimately benefit the car owners. You can avoid premature repairs that could have been taken care of later by understanding the new defect classifications and their implications.
Defects that are categorised as ‘major’ and ‘dangerous’ refer to problems with your car that pose a serious risk to not just you but also to the environment and others on the road. Your car will fail the MOT if defects found on your car fall in either of the above categories.
For example, if your car has brake discs that are significantly worn out, then this will be considered as a ‘major’ defect. If the disc breaks or is not secure, then it will be classified as ‘dangerous’. In either case, you will have to get the brake discs repaired immediately and then return to the MOT centre to get them checked before taking your car back out onto the road.
On the other hand, an advisory or minor notice of an aspect on your MOT won’t prevent your car from passing the test. However, you should take note of the advisory notice and resolve whatever the problem is to ensure that your car doesn’t fail the test the next time you visit the MOT centre.
Prepare Your Car for an MOT Test
Knowing what to check to prepare your car for an MOT can increase your chances of passing the test and getting an MOT certificate. This list is the same as the safety checks performed by testers.
However, to help increase your chances of passing the MOT, we are going to provide you with a list of the most important things you need check before an MOT test and what look for when performing these checks. Here is a list of things you need to check to prepare for the MOT test and pass it:
General
The first thing that you need to do to prepare your car for an MOT is to ensure that:
The windscreen wipers and washers are operational
The horn works
The seatbelt works properly and is not cut or worn out
The wiping edge or loose strips of the windscreen’s rubber blades are not missing any chunks
The screen wash is topped up
The seatbelts are free from damage, and engage and disengage cleanly,
The mountings are secure
The inertia reel locks when the seatbelt is pulled sharply
2. Tyres
Checking your car for an MOT is easy. Simply walk around your car and ensure there are no cuts or bulges on the sidewalls or objects stuck in the tread. Also, ensure that the tread meets the legal depth requirement of 1.6mm. You can check your tyres for this by using a ‘20p’ rim or a tread depth gauge. Another important thing to do is ensuring that the construction type and axle size of each tyre matches the same of the opposite tyre. Lastly, make sure your spare tyre is road-legal.
3. Lights
After tyres, the next most important thing to check for an MOT test is the lighting on your car. What do you need to check here? Firstly, make sure that all exterior bulbs are operational. Once this is confirmed, check the lens of each light to ensure they are free of damage or cracks.
Next, check the brake and reversing lights on your car. Do this by reversing up to your garage door. Check if the lights are working by looking into your car’s rear-view mirror. You could also check the light by asking a friend to walk around the car while your reverse or press the brake. Other lights you need to check on your car include the main beam and dipped headlights, front and rear fog lights, stop lights, and all indicator lights.
4. Brakes
You’ll probably need to call in a specialist to have your car’s brakes checked. However, there are a few basic checks that you can perform on your own. The first of them is checking the brake fluid. The reservoir of your brake system should indicate fluid level between the ‘min’ or ‘max’ level. If you’re not sure where to look for this, go through the owner’s handbook that came with your car.
The next thing you need to check is the handbrake, also known as the parking brake. You can perform this check by pulling the handbrake on. If it takes you a lot of clicks to secure the handbrake, then the handbrake cable probably needs adjusting. On the other hand, the handbrake may need tightening if it is released when you tap on the lever.
5. Windscreen and Mirrors
Your car won’t fail the MOT test just because small stone chips were found on its windscreen. However, your chances of passing the test are impacted if:
There are cracks or chips on the entire area occupied by the wipers
The damage outside this area exceeds 10mm in diameter
The glass is not in good condition and mirrors are not fixed in a secure way
6. Steering
Like the brakes, the steering also needs to be checked by a specialist. However, there are a few checks that you can perform on your own. For instance, you can check how tight the steering wheel is on the column. The column support could be worn out if not notice that the steering wheel is loose on the column or behaves abnormally when you turn.
In addition to the above, turn the steering wheel from full lock to full lock and listen for knocks or excessive noise from the power steering pump. If you notice any of these sounds, then you may have worn out steering wheel components.
7. Bodywork
Make sure your bumpers are secure. Additionally, ensure that you can access your car through all doors and there are no sharp edges on your car that could injure pedestrians.
8. Exhaust
Check the exhaust on your car to ensure it is secure and free from corrosion. Next, pump the accelerator with your car in neutral, doors open, and parking brake on. If you hear any unusual noises or clatter, then it could mean there’s something wrong with the exhaust. If smoke comes out of the exhaust, then your car will fail this emissions part of the test if you don’t the exhaust fixed before the MOT.
9. Shock Absorbers
The last thing you need to check to prepare for an MOT is the effectiveness of your car’s shock absorbers. The shock absorbers should not show any signs of difference in absorbing pressure. Bounce each corner of your car to find any fault in your car’s shock absorbers.
Before your car settles, it should be able to go down under pressure and then rise back up to full height.If you notice excessive bouncing, then you may have worn out or faulty shock absorbers.
These are the 9 most important checks you need to perform to prepare your car for an MOT. This is one of the most important pieces of information that you need to know about MOT. Another important piece of information related to MOT are the costs involved in the test. The MOT costs are discussed next.
MOT Test Costs in Ossett
While the cost of the test can vary from centre to centre, there is a limit on how much a Ossett MOT centre can charge for the MOT. The maximum amount that you can be charged for an MOT is £54.85. However, the fee could be lower depending on where you get your car tested.
It is important to note that the £54.85 maximum fee for MOT applies to cars with up to 8 passenger seats. Private passenger vehicles and ambulances with 9 to 12 passenger seats, 13 to 16 passenger seats, and more than 16 passenger seats can be charged a maximum of £57.30, £59.55, and £80.65 respectively.
To get the full list of the maximum fees that can be charged for the different vehicles, visit the official page of the UK government related to MOT. Also, you can find ways to save money on your car’s next MOT by searching Google for ‘MOT discount’ or ‘cheap MOT’.
Looking for a reliable MOT Test in Ossett? Look no further than Express Tyre & Auto Centre! If you have any questions or would like to book your MOT Test (which includes a FREE retest within 14 days), call 01924 582 476 or Book Appointment Online.
How the MOT Test Works
In an MOT, features that make your car safe to drive are tested. In addition to ensuring that your car is safe to drive on the road, the MOT also makes sure that your car does not pose any danger to the environment or others on the road. We already know the things that are checked in an MOT test. These are mentioned under ‘what testers are looking for’.
To recap, some of the items that are scrutinised in an MOT include seatbelts, the fuel system, mirrors, brakes, and exhaust emissions. However, what the MOT does not check includes your car’s engine, clutch, and gearbox.
To know more about what is tested in the MOT and what is not, check the MOT guide and inspection manual that reveals everything that is tested. The MOT test does not take very long. Instead, it is completed within 45 minutes to an hour.
Despite this, there is no guarantee that the MOT test will be quick for you. This is because some MOT test centres ask you to drop the car off in the morning and pick it up later in the day. Of course, you can drive away in your car only if your car gets clearance from the MOT test centre where it is being tested. If your car fails the test, then you won’t have this luxury.
MOT Test Result
Once the above checks are made on your car, the faults found in your car found during the MOT test are classified into three categories: minor, major, and dangerous. Following is what each category indicates or represents:
Minor Faults
Called ‘advisories’ in the past, the minor faults indicate that there are potential safety risks with your car. However, these risks are not ‘big’ enough to prevent your car from passing the MOT.
Major Faults
These faults indicate major safety risks. In most cases, the major faults with your car will cause you to fail the MOT test. However, you may still be able to pass the test by getting the faults repaired at the MOT centre or by driving to a garage for repair which the centre may allow you to do if they can’t fix the problem on their own.
Dangerous Faults
These are major safety risks that make it ‘dangerous’ and illegal to drive the car. You won’t be allowed to take your car onto the road until you get these faults with your car fixed. You may even have to get your car towed to a garage to have it fixed.
We have also discussed what constitutes a minor, major, and dangerous fault under the sub-heading ‘understand your MOT report’. So, we may want to refer back to it to work out if the problems with your car would fall in the category of minor, major, or dangerous faults. The purpose of categorising the faults in the car during an MOT test is to give owners an idea of the seriousness of the problem(s) in their car.
At the end of the test, your car will be given a pass or fail. If your car passes the test, then you will receive an MOT certificate and this will be recorded in the MOT database. The certificate will make it legal for you to drive your car on UK roads.
If your car fails the test, then you will be provided with a list of things to fix before you return to the centre for a retest. Additionally, you will be issued a ‘refusal of an MOT test certificate’ by the MOT centre and this will be recorded in the MOT database. However, if you think that you have been hard done by, then you can appeal against the result. We will get into the details later.
Another important piece of information to reveal here is that you can still drive your car with a failed MOT if your existing MOT certificate is still valid.
However, this situation will occur only if you get your car test a month prior to the expiry of your certificate. Also, you will still need to have the faults with your car fixed before your current MOT certificate expires if you want to continue driving your car on UK roads.
Keep in mind that you could still be stopped on the road by the police and prosecuted if you’re driving a car that is not considered ‘roadworthy’. So, if your car has failed an MOT test, then it would be best to keep it off the roads until you get the ‘faults’ with it fixed. This is in your own best interest. In the end, the purpose of the MOT test is to make sure that your car meets the legal standard for safety.
Retest After a Repair
If your car is given a ‘refusal of an MOT test certificate’, then the MOT centre where you get your car tested will provide you with a range of options. The options will be based on the MOT failure rules. The first option that you have is to leave the car with the MOT centre and ask them to perform the repairs.
Depending on how many repairs need to be made and the severity of the faults, the car may be fixed and retested on the same day you leave the car at the centre for the repairs. A partial retest may be performed on the car to cover the faults that have been fixed. However, if the repairs are more serious, then it could take longer to fix the car and get it retested.
If you leave your car with the MOT centre, then you may get the partial retest for free. However, the retest will have to happen within 10 days of failing the MOT. The partial retest covers a range of items for free including wipers, tyres, doors, mirrors, and wheels. You will be charged a full fee if you get your car retested 10 days after the MOT test. Another situation where you will be charged a full fee for the test is if your car fails the partial retest.
Also, you can take your car to another MOT centre to get it retested after it fails the original test. However, you will have to pay the fee for the test in full since you will be getting your car tested at the new MOT centre for the first time. You can find out more about the retest on the official page of the UK government related to this.
Test Result Appeals and Problems
If your car fails the MOT test, you can file an appeal. However, before doing that, make sure to discuss any problems with the MOT centre. Additionally, you can register a complaint with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) by visiting their website and filling an online form.
Before you fix the faults with your car, discuss the results of the test with the MOT centre where it was performed. If you think you have been wronged, appeal against the results by filling in the complaint form and sending it to DVSA no later than 14 days after the test. You will be contacted by DVSA within 5 days of submitting the form to discuss the appeal.
In case the DVSA wants to recheck your car, you will have to arrange a date for it and pay the test fee in full once again. Also, an inspection list will be sent to you by DVSA that lists any defects with your car. However, you do not make any repairs to your car until the closure of the appeal process.
In Case Your Car Passes an MOT When It Shouldn’t Have
Your car failing the MOT test is not the only situation where you can register a complaint with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). You can also file a complaint with the DVSA if your car passes the test and you feel it shouldn’t have. As crazy as it sounds, complaining against your car ‘wrongly’ passing the MOT test is in your own favour.
If your car passes a test when you feel it clearly has problems, then you will never know about the ‘faults’ in your car that pose a danger to the environment and others on the road.
These faults will be hiding behind the approval that the MOT certificate represents. Not only will this put your own and others’ lives at risk, but it will also prevent your car from passing the MOT test the next time you get it tested.
Just like in the case of appealing against MOT test failure, you will have to fill in the complaint form and then send it to DVSA to indicate to them that your car has ‘wrongly’ passed the test. You will be contacted within 5 days of submitting the form to discuss the appeal, just like in the case of MOT test failure.
If DVSA decides to recheck your car, then you will have to arrange a date. However, you won’t have to pay the test fee again. After your car has been rechecked, the DVSA will send you an inspection report that lists any defects with your car.
Time Limits
You need to complain within 3 months of the MOT if your car passes the test and you have a corrosion-related problem. For other defects, you need to file a complaint within 28 days of receiving the ‘pass’ certificate.
Genuineness of the MOT Certificate
You can find if your MOT certificate is genuine by checking your car’s MOT status.
Reporting Dissatisfaction with the MOT Service
If you’re dissatisfied with the MOT service you’ve received, then you can contact DVSA at the following to report your dissatisfaction:
DVSA
Telephone: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 6 pm
Vehicles that Don’t Need MOT Test
Certain vehicles in the UK are exempted from the MOT test. The first type of vehicle exempted from the MOT test is a vehicle that is yet to complete its third anniversary. This applies to most types or categories of vehicle.
However, there are some vehicle types that may need to be tested earlier than three years. You can find out about them by checking the age shown in MOT fees table.
In addition to vehicles that are yet to complete three years, other vehicles that are exempt from the MOT test include:
Electric-powered goods vehicles that have a registration date of earlier than 1st March 2015
You can also check the MOT exemption form (V112) to find the types of vehicles exempted from the MOT. If the unlikely case you find your vehicle on the list, you will need to fill in the exemption form so that your vehicle can either be taxed or get a tax exemption.
If you own a trailer, bus, or lorry, then you will need to get an annual test for these vehicles instead of an MOT. This test is often referred to as the ‘annual vehicle test’. You can find out more about vehicles exempted from the MOT here.
Fix Mistakes on MOT Certificate
After you receive the MOT certificate, check it very carefully as there may be some mistakes on it. If you find some information on the MOT certificate which is wrong, then you can get it corrected. A piece of information that often gets entered incorrectly on an MOT certificate is the mileage.
The Wrong Mileage
If you find the wrong mileage on the certificate, then get it corrected. The wrong lineage may be entered on the certificate if:
Your MOT was less than 28 days ago
Your MOT was more than 28 days ago
In either case, you should report the wrong mileage to the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA) and they will provide you with a replacement certificate with the correct information. To register a complaint regarding the incorrect information with the DVSA, you will need to scan the page showing the details of your vehicle and the registered keeper and then email it to DVSA. This is typically page 2 of your vehicle logbook.
In addition to the above-mentioned scan, you will have to provide proof of the mileage. This could be in the form of an emissions printout, an invoice for the MOT, a job card of the vehicle from the MOT centre, or a service receipt. The DVSA will not correct the mistakes on the MOT certificate if you don’t provide them with this evidence.
Information other than the wrong mileage that you can get corrected on the MOT certificate includes the make or model of your vehicle, the MOT test centre, the registration country of the vehicle, and the colour of the vehicle. You can also add or remove test records to your MOT history by calling or emailing DVSA. You can find out more here.
Final Word
The above information about an MOT test should get you well- prepared for it and everything that comes after. If you’re searching for a dependable MOT test centre in Wakefield, then you won’t find anyone better than Express Tyre & Auto Centre. Get in touch for more information.
Looking for a reliable MOT Test in Wakefield? Look no further than Express Tyre & Auto Centre! If you have any questions or would like to book your MOT Test (which includes a FREE retest within 14 days), call 01924 582 476 or Book Appointment Online.
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REQUEST CALLBACK
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Can You Drive a Car Without MOT?
There is a massive risk associated with driving without an MOT. The Ministry of Transport or MOT test is a legal requirement that ensures that a car is ‘fit enough’ to be on the road.
If three years have passed since your car got registered, then driving it without an MOT could land you in trouble.
Also, some types of vehicles may need to be tested at an MOT centre only a year after they are bought. Driving without an MOT could result in a fine of up to £1000.
There are few vehicles that are exempt from having an MOT. These include tractors, electric-powered goods vehicles registered before 1st March 2015, and some historic ‘classic’ vehicles. It is highly likely that you own none of these. Therefore, it would be in your best interest to get an MOT for your car if you haven’t done that already.
If you’re still interested in knowing the duration in which you can drive without an MOT, then you need to get well-acquainted with the MOT rules.
By simply going through and understanding the MOT rules, you can find out how long you can drive a car without MOT. If you’re still confused, then you may want to get in touch with an expert.
Does My Vehicle Have An MOT?
If you’re not sure about the validity of your car’s MOT, you can verify it by visiting the official page of the UK government that offers this service. In addition to the official page, other free online services linked to the official page allow you to check the MOT status of your car.
Using the MOT status checker, you can not only determine your car’s MOT status but also check when your next MOT is due. To check whether your car has an MOT certificate and when its validity ends, all you need to do is enter your car’s registration number (number plate) into the query box of the vehicle enquiry service.
By following the above-mentioned process, you can find out the MOT status of your car. It is important to find out your car’s MOT status because all vehicles, except a few select types, need to have a valid MOT once they pass three years of registration.
An MOT certificate is essential because it shows that a car meets the safety and environmental standards to be on the road. If you drive your car without an MOT, then you could be subjected to a fine of up to £1000, three penalty points, and even a driving ban.
How Do I Know When My Car Needs An MOT?
If three years have passed since your car’s registration, then you will need to get an MOT for your car to keep it on the road. Additionally, your MOT must be valid. If it has expired, then you will need to get a new MOT.
Once your car is older than three years, you will need to take it to an MOT centre once every year for an examination and to get its MOT renewed before the current one expires.
A simple glance at your current MOT certificate would let you know whether a new one is needed or not and when it expires. You can also find out if your car has a valid MOT and when it expires by entering your vehicle registration number into the query box of the UK’S government’s vehicle enquiry service.
Here is the link to the page. You can click on it to visit the vehicle enquiry service page and perform a quick search.
Once you have checked your car’s MOT status and expiration date through the vehicle enquiry service, you can book your next test with a nearby and reputable MOT centre. The earliest you can book a test with the MOT centre is a month, minus a day before your current MOT expires.
The good news is that even if you get your car tested at an MOT centre earlier than the due date, there will be no change to the MOT renewal date for the following year.
Can I Drive My Car If the MOT Has Expired?
If your MOT expires, then the only situation in which you can drive your car is when you are taking your car to the MOT test centre or to and from somewhere it is to be repaired. In case you are stopped by the police on the way, you will have to prove to them that you have an appointment at the garage or MOT Centre.
In case your car does not pass the MOT test, you can only drive your car for as long as your current MOT is valid. Once your current MOT expires, taking your car out onto the road would result in a hefty fine. If you fail the MOT test, then you will have to perform the repairs identified in the test and then return to the MOT centre for a retest and getting an MOT for your car.
Driving without a valid MOT is a serious offence and anyone found guilty of it will be subjected to three penalty points and a fine that can go as high as £2500. At times, you may be subjected to these penalties even if you were driving without a valid MOT in an emergency situation.
This should give an idea of the seriousness of the offence.
The only situation in which you won’t be penalised for driving without a valid MOT is if you are driving to or from a car repair centre or to a pre-arranged MOT test.
Are MOT Certificates Still Issued?
Yes, MOT certificates are still used. While the content and style of MOT certificates have changed significantly since May 2018, a paper copy of the MOT needs to be provided by all MOT-authorised garages that perform health checks on cars in the UK.
MOT certificates continue to be issued because they are one of the most important documents, alongside road tax and insurance; they make it legal for a vehicle to stay on roads in the UK. In order words, if your car is older than three years and you’re caught driving it without a valid MOT, you could be subjected to three penalty points and a fine that can go as high as £2500.
An important thing to note is that once an MOT is issued for your car, it will be valid for only a year. After this time, you need to get a new MOT certificate to ensure it is legal for your car to be on the road. While you should make it a priority to get an MOT certificate issued for your car, you must not let an MOT dictate how you take care of your car.
This is because an MOT does not guarantee that your car won’t need any maintenance or servicing in the next 12 months or till the time your next MOT renewal is due.
From May 2018 onwards, all cars that pass the MOT test are issued a new-style MOT certificate which an A4-sized paper with the certificate printed on it. To make sure you don’t lose the certificate, keep it somewhere safe till it is time for renewing your current MOT certificate. You would do well to follow this advice.
Are MOT Failures Recorded?
Yes, all MOT failures are recorded on the national database. This can immediately put a driver at the risk of punishment. A ‘refusal of a MOT test certificate’ notice is given by the test centre where the MOT test was conducted to the driver of a failed vehicle. If you continue to drive car after receiving the ‘refusal of a MOT test certificate’ notice, you may have to face prosecution as this is a clear warning given in the guidelines provided by the UK government.
If you continue to drive your car after fails the MOT and the failure is recorded on the national database, then you are liable to fines and prosecution. Additionally, if your vehicle does not have a valid MOT and is involved in a major accident, then you may be subjected to a punishment that you would want to avoid at all costs.
Since all MOT failures are recorded on the national database, you should get all the faults with your car listed in the report provided by MOT test centre, along with the MOT certificate refusal notice, fixed as soon as possible. If the faults with your car listed in the report are ‘minor faults’, then you can even get them fixed on the same day as the original test and at the same garage where the test was conducted.
In case the faults are more serious, you can drive your car out of the MOT test centre and take it to a garage of your choice to get the faults fixed. Once you have made the necessary repairs to your car, you can return to the MOT test centre for a retest and get an MOT certificate issued for your car.
Are MOT Retests Free?
Your car can easily fail the MOT test if you do not prepare it well enough for the test. If your car fails the MOT test, then you will receive a refusal of MOT Certificate and will be given a list of repairs to make before returning to the same garage or visiting another MOT test centre for a re-test.
If you’re worried about the fees of the MOT re-test, then you’ll be happy to know that the retest will be free as long as you get it done at the same garage where the original test was conducted and make sure the retest happens within 10 days of the original test (14 days if you book your MOT in Wakefield with us).
However, an important thing to note is that you will only get a partial retest for free. This means that only certain items, like car parts that can be fixed in 10 days, are covered in the free retest.
Some of these items include doors, mirrors, wheels, tyres, wipers, steering wheel, lamp, direction indicators, brakes, seats, etc.
However, big repairs that would need at least a couple of weeks to get fixed are not covered in the free partial retest simply because they don’t allow to fulfil the requirement of getting your car retested within 10 days of the original MOT test.
If you get your car rested after 10 days, whether it is at the location of the original test or another test centre, you will be charged a full fee for the test. Also, if your car fails the partial retest, then the next time you get your car tested, you will be charged a full fee by the MOT test centre.
You can get more information on the fee for the retest and other information on the retest by visiting the official page for it.
What MOT Class Is My Vehicle?
If your car falls in a certain class or category of vehicles, then you may be exempt from having to get an MOT for your car. For this reason, it is important to find out the MOT class or category that your car belongs to. Another reason to find out what MOT class your vehicle belongs to is determining how long you can drive your car without an MOT after registration.
The age at which the first MOT test is required by a vehicle varies depending on the type and class of the vehicle. So, what are the different MOT classes that vehicles in the UK are categorised into? Before May 2018, there were only four MOT vehicle classes.
These include Class 3, Class 4, Class 5, and Class 7 vehicles.
However, seven new categories of MOT vehicles were added to the list on 20th May 2018. The new MOT vehicle class definitions include L2e vehicle, L5e vehicle, L6e vehicle, L7e vehicle, M1 vehicle, M2 vehicle, M3 vehicle, and N1 vehicle. However, your car is unlikely to be part of these new MOT classes since they have been introduced for some special types of vehicles or vehicles that are not very common.
Therefore, if you want to know the MOT class of your vehicle, you should refer to the MOT vehicle class definitions that existed before May 2018. This will not only allow you to know the MOT class your vehicle belongs to, but it will also let you know the age of your car when the first MOT is needed and the maximum MOT fee that you will have to pay to get your car tested and obtain the MOT certificate.
