How to Avoid Missing Your MOT Test
Every year, thousands of UK drivers accidentally let their MOT expire. It’s easy to do when reminder letters get lost in the post or you’ve recently moved house. But driving without a valid MOT can result in fines of up to £1,000, invalidate your insurance, and cause serious problems if you’re stopped by police.
Here’s how to make sure you never miss your MOT renewal date.
Why People Miss Their MOT
The MOT renewal system relies on you remembering when your test is due. You might get a reminder letter from the DVSA, but these don’t always arrive. Email reminders can end up in spam folders. If you’ve changed address or bought a used car, it’s even easier to lose track of the date.
The DVSA keeps accurate MOT records, but you need to actively check your MOT status to know when your test is due.
What Happens If You Miss Your MOT
Driving without a valid MOT has serious consequences:
- Fines of up to £1,000 if caught by police
- Your insurance may be invalid if you have an accident
- Your car could be seized during a roadside check
- You might miss important advisories that lead to expensive repairs later
Even being a few days late means your car is technically illegal to drive (except when driving directly to a pre-arranged MOT test).
Check When Your MOT Is Due
The quickest way to find out your MOT expiry date is to use our free MOT check tool. The tools use official DVSA MOT History data to show your vehicle’s current MOT status, when it expires, and previous test results.
You only need your vehicle registration number (vehicle s number plate), no logbook, previous mot certificates or mobile phone number required. Within seconds, you’ll see whether you have a valid MOT and when you need to book your next test.
Set Up a Free MOT Reminder
Checking your MOT status today is useful, but you still need to remember next year’s date. The easiest solution is to set up a free MOT reminder service.
Motorly’s MOT reminder sends you an email or text message before your MOT expires, using official DVSA data. It takes less than a minute to set up and could save you from fines or the hassle of an expired MOT.
<<< Check your MOT status and use our free reminder service now] >>>
What You Get With an MOT Reminder
When you set up a reminder, you’ll receive:
- Your current MOT expiry date and status – find out if you have a valid mot certificate
- Free email reminders before your test is due
- Notification when it’s time to book your next test
The service is completely free and works for multiple vehicles, making it useful if you manage family cars or company vehicles.
Tips for Managing Your MOT
Book early: You can take your MOT up to a month minus one day before it expires and keep the same renewal date for next year.
Check advisories: Your MOT certificate lists issues that aren’t serious enough to cause failure yet. Fixing these early often saves money at your next test.
Keep records: Save your MOT certificate in your glovebox or take a photo for your phone. You may need it if you’re stopped by police.
Set reminders: Even if your car passes every year without problems, it’s surprisingly easy to forget the renewal date. Get reminders sent to your email address and never miss the expiry dates again.
Stay Road-Legal
Missing your MOT causes unnecessary stress and can be expensive. Take a minute to check your MOT status and signup for free reliable MOT reminders to ensure you’ll never forget your renewal date again. No mobile number required.
Motorly’s MOT reminder service uses official DVSA MOT History data and is completely free to use. It’s a simple way to stay on top of your car maintenance without adding another task to your to-do list.
<<< Click here to use our Free MOT Check and Reminder Service >>>