A brand new car doesn’t need an MOT for the first three years, but any other vehicle must be taken for an annual MOT. It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure the car has a valid MOT certificate; there is no reminder letter or other notification. As a car owner, it can be useful to add the MOT due date to your calendar to ensure it doesn’t get missed.
The aim of the MOT is thoroughly check your car to ensure that your car is safe to drive and roadworthy. In order to be considered roadworthy, the vehicle must comply with current regulations which include emission levels. Whilst you may choose to service your own car, an MOT must be carried out by a VOSA certified garage or service centre for it to be valid and legal.
At times we may accidently forget that the MOT has expired and a test is due. If this is the case, it is important that you stop driving your car as soon as you have realised. Then ring your local garage or service centre to book an MOT for the earliest possible time. Do not drive your vehicle for any other purpose than to attend this pre-booked appointment.
There are many risks in driving a car with an expired MOT. Firstly, if the car isn’t fit to be on the road then you are putting yourself, your passengers and other road users at potential risk of danger. If your car is involved in an incident or accident, your insurance will also be invalid if your MOT has expired, which could be far more costly than getting the test done.
ANPR Cameras
A far more likely scenario is that your car will be picked up by surveillance cameras or police vehicles. Across the UK road network there are extensive CCTV networks, along with speed cameras and mobile police vehicles that are tracking car movements around the country. The majority of these are equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.
In addition to monitoring speed, being a crime deterrent and providing evidence when laws have been broken, these cameras are used to monitor and control traffic flow. They are also used in the planning of new infrastructure and can be found in car parks, toll areas and in other areas where vehicle charges are in place, such as the London Congestion Charge. They are also used as a security device in some hotels or gated residential properties.
With so many ANPR cameras around, it doesn’t take long for a car without a valid MOT to be picked up. Unless you are on route to a pre-booked MOT, you can face a fine of up to £1000. If you vehicle is deemed to be unfit to be on the road, the police can seize the car and add points to your license in addition to a fine.
When is your MOT due?
If you aren’t sure when your MOT is due, it’s time to check your paperwork. If you lie in South Bucks, and are looking for an MOT, Holmer Green Service Centre https://holmergreen-servicecentre.co.uk/ is a VOSA registered provider. Our experienced team of mechanics will ensure your car is fit for the road as quickly and conveniently as possible.
How early can i get an MOT
It is possible to get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before the previous runs out and keep the same renewal date. You can still get an MOT before this, but the renewal date for the following year will change to one year (minus a day) from the date the vehicle last passed its MOT.
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