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An MOT certificate is valid for 12 months from the expiry of your previous certificate - provided you take your test within 28 days of 12 months from the expiry of your previous certificate. For example, if you took your test 30th June, you could take your test the following year from the 2nd June and still keep the 30th June expiry date. You can find your expiry date on your current MOT certificate.

You can book your MOT test a month early – meaning that up to a month (minus a day) before your current MOT certificate expires, you can book your test in. This also keeps your renewal date the same on your MOT certificate for the following year.

You may only drive a car with an expired MOT certificate to an MOT appointment, or to a pre-arranged appointment to have repairs made to your vehicle. The penalty for driving without an MOT certificate is a fine of up to £1,000. However, if your car has failed and is deemed dangerous, you could face a fine of up to £2,500 and 3 points on your licence.

Additionally, if you have an accident and do not have a valid MOT certificate to present to your insurance company, your claim may be affected.

The legal maximum an MOT costs is £54.85. Setyres prices are dependent on the individual garage but do not meet the maximum.

If you fail your first MOT, our trained MOT testers will contact you to talk through your options. Once we have provided a detailed quote for any repairs and carried out the work, we will re-test your car free of charge.

However, if you choose to take your vehicle away to carry out repairs before it gets retested, this could cause further fees, depending on when you bring the vehicle back in for testing. To learn more, get in touch with your local branch.

An MOT is a full check on the workings of a vehicle, so all areas are checked:

• Body and vehicle structure – the vehicle will be checked for corrosion, damage and for inappropriate repairs or modifications. Towbars will be checked alongside the electrical socket and speedometer.
• Fuel system – the fuel system will be checked for leaks and that there is a locking fuel cap. The exhaust will be checked to ensure it meets legal emission and noise requirements.
• Seats and seat belts – all seat belts must be fitted and pre-tensioners and load limiters functioning properly. The drivers’ seat must be fully adjustable.
• Doors – all front doors should be able to open from both inside and outside the car.
• Tyres and wheels – tyre tread must meet the legal requirement of 1.6mm. The tyre must be the correct size for your car and inflated to the correct pressure.
• Mirrors – you must have a side mirror and internal rear view mirror.
• Wipers & windscreen – your windscreen wipers must be functioning properly. The wind screen must have no damage more than 40mm in size.
• Brakes – your brakes functionality will be checked as will any inappropriate repairs and modifications.
• Steering & suspension – any corrosion to power steering or the lock mechanism will be checked as well as any inappropriate modifications.
• Lights – your lights should be in functioning order.