When you buy a new car, you do not need to have it booked in for an MOT inspection immediately. However, as soon as cars – not to mention vans and motorbikes – pass their third birthday, an MOT will be expected annually. The only exception to this rule is if you have declared a SORN notice and taken your car off the road. This will mean, you are not allowed to drive it on the public highway, however.
When your current MOT has expired, your vehicle will no longer be considered to be roadworthy by the authorities. The police are entitled to stop you if you are driving a car without a valid MOT and you could face a stiff penalty. Even worse, your insurance won’t be valid, a big problem if you have an accident after your MOT’s expiration date. Some people think there is a week or two after an MOT was due when it is okay to continue driving. This is a myth because there is no grace period. The one and only reason cars can be driven without a valid MOT is that they are being taken to an MOT test centre for an inspection which must have already been booked in.
It is worth knowing that you don’t have to have your MOT booked on a specific day. Let’s say your last MOT was carried out on March 12. If so, you don’t have to have your next one on the same date this year. Without altering the renewal date, you can have your inspection carried out up to one month, less one day, from the previous date. In this example, you could book your car in as early as February 11, therefore. Get your MOT done in a timely manner with Elite MOTs London Centre where you can book in advance and ensure that your car is roadworthy before your current MOT runs out.
When a vehicle is inspected during an MOT, dozens of individual tests and measurements are made. Everything from the horn to the seatbelts and the tyres to the emissions will be checked to make sure they meet the minimum legal requirements. Car owners should do basic maintenance ahead of an MOT, such as checking their headlamps and wiper blades, to give them an increased chance of passing. The maximum fee that is allowed by the government for an MOT is £54.85 for a car but you can find it cheaper by shopping around.
