Ultimate Guide to MOT Certificates

As a vehicle owner in the UK, you have a few essential obligations. You need your V5C logbook to prove you're the vehicle's registered keeper. You need to pay road tax every year and purchase insurance cover. And you need an MOT certificate if your vehicle is over 3 years old.

An MOT certificate shows that your car has passed a test which checks that it meets safety standards set by the government. It's important to understand exactly what this means and how it affects you.

Overview: What is an MOT certificate?

An MOT certificate is a legal document given by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). It demonstrates that your car has passed an inspection and adheres to UK environmental and safety regulations. After your vehicle's third year on the road, it's a requirement by law.

Every vehicle needs an MOT certificate. Motorcycles, passenger cars, vans, ambulances, buses, coaches and semis all require them. 

Your MOT certificate outlines issues (if there are any) that could become problematic in the future, such as tyres with low tread. If your testing centre notes anything on your MOT test, you'll have to keep a close eye on them and potentially fix them before next year's test.

There are a few different kinds of MOT certificates, depending on whether your car is in tip-top shape or needs a few repairs before it can be certified.

Let's take a look at each one:

MOT test certificate — pass with no defects

If your car is in great condition, you'll get the green light. This means that it has passed its MOT test and there are no issues with it that need to be addressed right away. You'll receive a pass certificate from your testing centre that shows the date when it was issued and will need to be renewed on or before that day next year.

MOT test certificate — with minor defects and advisory notes

In some cases, the testing centre may note certain issues with your car that wouldn't necessarily warrant a failing score. Minor defects cannot cause MOT test failure no matter how many the test administrator finds.

Examples include:

• Broken or malfunctioning registration plate lamps
• Low brake fluid (below the minimum mark)
• Defective windshield wiper blades

Even if your car has no defects, the inspector will issue an MOT advisory if they notice a potential future problem. You won’t have to worry about fixing these problems right away, but you’ll need to monitor their status to make sure they don’t turn into fail-worthy issues later on (which they usually will).

For example:

• Tyres worn down close to the legal limit
• Low tyre pressure
• Brake pads showing signs of wear

Minor defects and advisory notes aren't serious enough to make your car fail its MOT test. But you will have to address them before your next test or watch them closely for any changes.

Contingency MOT test certificate

A contingency MOT certificate is an interim document given when an MOT test takes place during an authorised outage. It's meant to provide legally valid documentation even when the DVSA's MOT testing database is inaccessible.

That way, UK drivers never run into a situation where they're stuck without a roadworthy vehicle just because of a DVSA technology error, scheduled maintenance period, or widespread broadband issue.

How long is an MOT certificate valid?

An MOT certificate is valid for one year from its issue date. This means after your MOT test, you’ll have one year until your MOT expires. You need to take your vehicle in for a new test on or before that same date next year in order to stay legally roadworthy.

You're allowed to keep the same renewal/expiry date so long as your renewal takes place within one month of the certificate's expiry. This means that even if your MOT test is early, you can still renew it on the same date next year and avoid having to pay for two tests in the same year.

If you don't get the MOT done by its due date, your vehicle is no longer roadworthy. You cannot drive it on public roads.
If you drive without a valid MOT, you risk being fined up to £1,000. In more serious instances, you also run the risk of having your insurance invalidated.

How to get an MOT certificate

Every year, you must take your vehicle to an authorised garage to pass an MOT test. This test determines whether it is roadworthy based on whether it reflects current environmental and road safety standards in the UK. If your vehicle passes the MOT test, you will receive a paper MOT certificate.

The MOT test checks all important parts of your vehicle such as the brakes, steering, lights, exhaust system and tyres. The tester will then issue a certificate if they believe that your car meets the required safety standards.

The MOT test does not check the following areas of your vehicle:

• Engine
• Clutch
• Gearbox

Let's take a look at what the MOT test does check:

• Body, vehicle structure and general items
• Fuel system
• Exhaust, emissions and pollution control
• Towbars
• Seats, seatbelts and supplemental restraint systems
• Doors, mirrors and load security
• Wheels and tyres
• Brakes
• Steering and suspension
• Windscreen, wipers and washers
• Electrical wiring and batteries
• Registration plates and VIN
• Instruments

You can find out more about what specific elements are tested during an MOT and how to prepare by reading our complete MOT checklist.

What does an MOT certificate look like?

An MOT certificate is a simple one-page paper document that can easily fit into your glove box. It should have the following sections:

• Date of issue
• Expiry date
• Test number
• Vehicle make, model and colour
• Vehicle registration mark and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
• Country of registration
• Vehicle category (e.g., M1, N1)
• Mileage and mileage history
• Pass status (Pass/Pass with defects)
• Minor defects (if applicable)
• Advisory notes (if applicable)
• Testing organisation and address
• Inspector signature

Here's a look at different MOT documents to give you a better idea of what to expect:

Passing MOT test certificate

This is an example certificate of a car that has passed it's MOT.

MOT advisory and minor defects certificate

This is an example certificate of a car that has passed it's MOT, but with advisory and mnor defects.

Contingency MOT certificate

This is an example contingency MOT test certificate.

MOT test failure notice

This is an example certificate of a car that has failed it's MOT.

How to use an MOT certificate

Your MOT certificate serves as proof that your vehicle has passed its roadworthiness check and is safe to drive on public roads. It's important to always keep it with you when driving (e.g., in your glovebox).

If you're pulled over, the police may ask to see it during a spot check. You can check MOT status online, but it will be much easier to show your up-to-date MOT certificate to prevent further questioning. Keeping it will make a 15-minute traffic stop a 2-minute one.

If you want to transfer ownership of your car, you'll need to present the MOT certificate as well. The MOT certificate will still be valid for the new owner, and they won't be able to tax or drive the car unless it already has one.

When is it legal to drive without an MOT certificate?

Every car over three years old must have a valid MOT certificate to drive on public roads in the UK, even electric vehicles. The only difference with MOTs for electric vehicles is the inspector won't look at the fuel system and exhaust/emissions criteria.

If your vehicle was previously roadworthy and fails its MOT test, you cannot drive it anymore. Assuming your vehicle has no serious faults, the only exception to this rule is if you're driving it to a repair and MOT appointment. This appointment must be pre-booked — if you're pulled over, you'll have to prove to the officer that's your reason for being on the road.

If you have a new car (less than three years old), you don't need to have an MOT certificate yet.

Your car can become MOT-exempt 40 years after it was first registered (not built). If you're a classic car collector, you probably don't need an MOT for most of your cars. To drive them, however, you still need to keep them in a roadworthy condition.

Do you still receive a paper copy of an MOT certificate?

You will still receive a paper copy of your MOT certificate when you take it to a garage for testing. But the UK government has made it much easier. Now, you can also access your test certificate and history online. It only takes a few clicks.

How to get a copy of your MOT certificate

If you lose your MOT certificate, you can visit the DVSA's website to replace a lost or damaged MOT free of charge. All you need is your car's number plate and the 11-digit VIN printed in your V5C logbook.

It's also possible to check whether or not your vehicle has a valid MOT certificate without visiting the garage or contacting the DVSA by using the DVSA's online service.

You can also use the DVSA's MOT history check service to access past records of your vehicle's MOT tests, including advisory notes from each test. This will give you an idea of whether any consistent issues with your car may need to be addressed.

Want to learn more? These are the questions our users ask us the most.

How much does it cost to get an MOT certificate?

MOT costs vary depending on whether you're driving a motorcycle, passenger car, or other type of vehicle. For motorcycles, an MOT test costs between £29.65 and £37.80. Most regular cars, SUVs, and private passenger vehicles cost £54.85 to inspect. For larger private passenger vehicles (more than 16 passengers), it costs £80.65.

Is the MOT certificate transferable if I sell my vehicle?

When you sell your vehicle, your MOT certificate is transferable. Since it's tied to the vehicle and its performance (not you, the driver), the new owner won't have to worry about heading to the garage for a new test. Because of this, you will have a very hard time selling a car without an MOT certificate.

Can I get a temporary MOT certificate in certain situations?

You will be given a temporary MOT certificate if the MOT database was inaccessible when you administered your test. This could be due to a broadband outage or internal DVSA problem (e.g., scheduled downtime).

In these cases, the testing centre will give you a handwritten contingency MOT test certificate, which will serve as temporary MOT validation until they can update the system. Once it's updated, you can exchange the temporary certificate for a full 12-month one without having to retake any tests.

If the garage could not perform the test or document it due to their own technology failure, this rule does not apply. It would then be their responsibility to stop administering tests until they fix the issue.

Is the MOT certificate the same as vehicle tax or insurance?

The MOT certificate is not the same as vehicle tax or insurance. It is, however, the first step in obtaining those two things. The MOT certificate is an annual test to check if the vehicle meets legal safety standards and roadworthiness. Vehicle tax, on the other hand, is an annual fee you pay for using your vehicle on public roads. Your insurance policy is meant to give you coverage in the event of an accident.

All three are important — one does not replace the other. You can't legally drive your vehicle without all three, and you need a valid MOT certificate before you can tax your vehicle and insure it. So you need all three, but you need the MOT certificate first.