Is there a grace period for MOTs?
Get the details on MOT grace periods in the UK
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By Tia Harrison-North
Last updated: 21 October 2025
If your MOT is close to expiring, you might be wondering: ‘is there a grace period for MOTs?’.
In the UK, you must have a valid MOT to legally drive on the roads. You’ll need to get your car MOT’d by the expiration date, otherwise you’ll only be able to drive your car to a pre-booked MOT appointment and nowhere else.
Get the details on MOT grace periods in our guide below.
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So, is there a grace period for MOT?
There is no grace period for MOTs in the UK. The most we get is the option to drive to a pre-booked MOT appointment without a valid MOT.
You can’t make any other stops on the way to your MOT appointment, and your car must have valid insurance and be taxed.
You also cannot drive your car to the MOT appointment if it has a dangerous fault – you'll need to have it towed.
You get a month (minus one day) in the run-up to your MOT’s expiry to get it retested if you want to keep the same schedule for next time. If you get it done earlier than this, your MOT will expire earlier.
How long after your MOT expires can you drive?
It’s illegal to drive your car without a valid MOT unless driving to your pre-booked test.
You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving without a valid MOT in the UK, unless you can show booking documents to prove you’re off to your test.
Is there any leeway on MOT expiry?
The only exception for driving without an MOT is if you’re travelling to a pre-booked MOT test and don’t have any major faults, like we explained earlier. Keep your booking details on hand in case you’re stopped by the police.
You can drive without an MOT if you fit the following criteria:
Your car is over 40 years old and hasn’t had any ‘substantial changes’ to the chassis, body, engine or axles in the last 30 years
Your car is under three years old, and isn’t a vehicle that needs an MOT at the one-year point (for example, a taxi or ambulance)
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What happens if your MOT is late or overdue?
Driving without an MOT is illegal and very risky business. You’re not only risking a £1,000 fine, but could also receive three penalty points on your licence and have your vehicle seized.
You could even invalidate your car insurance. Some policies have a clause about driving without an MOT so, if you break the law and drive without a valid certificate in place, you could also be driving uninsured.
Apart from being illegal, driving uninsured or with a void policy usually means that your insurer won’t pay out in the event of an accident.
Do you get 14 days grace for an MOT?
You don’t get a 14-day grace period for your MOT – that's a common myth. The only place you can drive your car without an MOT, is to the garage to get a new MOT.
How to avoid missing your MOT renewal
It’s easy to forget the dates when it comes to car maintenance, so it’s worth taking extra steps to keep your test front of mind.
You could try:
Sign up to the official government MOT reminder to get free reminders a month before your certificate expires
Book your MOT in advance so you don’t risk running out of time
Use our easy online service and MOT booking tool to quickly get your test sorted
Book your MOT with cinch
There’s no grace period when it comes to expired MOTs in the UK, so make sure you’re on it with your testing schedule.
Letting your MOT expire can invalidate your insurance and tax, and you risk fines, penalty points, or could even have your vehicle seized.
Book an MOT with cinch now to ensure your vehicle is up to scratch.
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