Can I drive without an MOT?
What happens if you drive without a valid MOT
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by Nic Hopkirk
Last updated: 6 May 2025
You can get a hefty fine, penalty points and even a driving ban for driving a car without an MOT.
The only time it’s legal to drive a car without an MOT is if you’re driving it to or from a pre-booked MOT or car repair appointment.
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Can I drive without an MOT if it’s booked in?
No, not unless you’re driving it to a pre-booked MOT appointment, or an appointment to get your car repaired.
Essentially, you can only drive a car without an MOT to an appointment at a garage.
What happens if I miss my MOT?
If you miss your MOT, you cannot legally drive your car, unless you’re heading to a pre-booked MOT or repair appointment at a garage.
You can’t even legally park your car on the road.
You could incur a fine of up to £1,000, be given penalty points and even, in some cases, be issued with a driving ban for driving a car without an MOT.
Your car insurance will also become invalid when your MOT expires, meaning you won’t be covered if you have an accident while driving without a valid MOT.
I’ve just bought a car – does it need an MOT?
If you’ve just bought a brand-new car, you don’t need to worry about getting an MOT for it until three years after the car’s registration date.
When the car is three years old, it will need its first MOT test.
If you’ve bought a used car, you’ll need to ensure it has a valid MOT.
It’s important to check the car’s service history, to ensure it’s been regularly tested and passed its MOT inspections.
At cinch, all our cars come with a valid MOT for at least six months. We also offer a 90-day warranty and a 14-day money back guarantee.
Find out more about cinch car inspections.
What happens if I get caught driving without an MOT?
If you drive a car without an MOT (outside of driving to a garage for an MOT or repair appointment), you’re breaking the law.
You could be issued with a fine of up to £1,000, penalty points, and in some cases, you could even lose your driving licence.
Your insurance will also become invalid when your MOT certificate runs out. So, if you have an accident, your insurance company won’t cover any of the costs for repairs.
Driving your car after it failed an MOT
A car will fail its MOT if the test results find dangerous or major faults with the vehicle.
This can include faulty lights, indicators, excessive tyre wear, suspension and brakeeak issues.
You cannot drive your car away from the repair centre until these faults have been repaired, as you’d be breaking the law.
You may also get a list of minor, or ‘advisory’ faults to repair in the future.
If there were no major faults found with the vehicle, and you still have a valid MOT, you can drive your car.
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