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MOT expiry dates are being extended by 6 months to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Your MOT certificate will be extended by 6 months if it expires between 30 March 2020 and 31 July 2020, and your vehicle is a:
There are different rules if your MOT expiry date was on or before 29 March 2020.
The extension also applies to these types of vehicles that are due their first MOT test between 30 March 2020 and 31 July 2020.
Your MOT certificate will not be extended if your vehicle’s MOT expires on or after 1 August 2020. You must book an MOT as usual.
MOT centres are open now for you to get an MOT.
You can get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date.
Example If your MOT runs out on 2 August, the earliest you can get an MOT to keep the same renewal date for next year is 3 July.
You should not take your vehicle for its MOT if either:
Some MOT centres will collect your vehicle, carry out an MOT, and return it if you’re being shielded. Contact your local MOT centres to find out if they offer this service.
You can register your vehicle as off the road (SORN) if you cannot take your vehicle for its MOT and your vehicle tax is due to run out.
You need to do this because you need a valid MOT (unless your vehicle is exempt) to renew your vehicle tax.
The Department for Transport is working with insurers and the police to make sure you are not unfairly penalised for not being able to get an MOT.
You must not drive your vehicle before you take it to its MOT.
Your vehicle’s MOT expiry date will be automatically extended by 6 months if it’s eligible. This will be done about 7 days before it’s due to expire.
This means that:
You will not get a new paper MOT certificate with the new expiry date on it.
You must still keep your vehicle safe to drive.
Example Your vehicle’s MOT was due to expire on 3 May 2020.
This will automatically be extended to 3 November 2020. You will need to get your MOT by this date.
Your vehicle’s MOT expiry date will be updated about 7 days before it was originally due to expire.
You need to include these details in the email:
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will then:
Your MOT extension will no longer apply if you take your vehicle for its MOT and it fails.
Your vehicle will need to be fixed and pass its MOT before you can use it again.
Example Your vehicle’s MOT was originally due to expire on 3 May 2020, but has been extended to 3 November 2020.
You take your vehicle for its MOT in August and it fails. You must stop using the vehicle until it’s fixed and passes another MOT test.
You cannot renew your vehicle tax until your MOT expiry date has been extended. It will be extended a few days before it was originally due to expire.
This means you might need to wait until later in June to tax your vehicle.
Check that the MOT expiry date has been extended before you tax your vehicle.
You must make sure your vehicle is safe to drive (‘roadworthy’). It can be unsafe even if your MOT expiry date has been extended.
Find out:
Take your vehicle to be repaired at the nearest open garage if it’s unsafe. These are allowed to stay open during the coronavirus outbreak.
You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get 3 penalty points for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
Published 25 March 2020
Last updated 29 June 2020 + show all updates