Can I tax and insure a car without an MOT?

In order to renew your annual road tax on your vehicle you will need a valid MOT certificate, however you can insure your car without this. The most important thing to note with the insurance is that without an MOT certificate, your insurer likely won’t cover you in the event of an accident.

When taxing your vehicle, your vehicle will be checked to ensure that it has a valid MOT certification, so this will need to be obtained before it can be taxed. Driving without a valid MOT certificate is illegal and doing so will invalidate your insurance policy.

What happens to my insurance if my car fails its MOT?

If your vehicle has failed a MOT test booked prior to its expiry date then insurers will often cover the vehicle up until its expiry, unless the vehicle is listed as having dangerous faults on the MOT. To check whether your insurer provides cover following an MOT failure, it is recommended to contact your insurer before driving to ensure you are covered.

What happens to my remaining months of tax if my vehicle fails its MOT

If you decide to repair your vehicle and it is still covered by in-date car tax and insurance then you will be able to drive your vehicle as normal after obtaining a passed MOT certification. If you decide not to repair the vehicle then you should declare your vehicle off road in which case you will get a refund on any full months of remaining tax.

You can declare your car off road by applying online on the GOV website.

How to check when your MOT is due

If you are unsure when your MOT is scheduled to expire, you can find out using our free search tool online. All you need is your vehicle registration.

Book your MOT

If you need to book an MOT inspection you can book at one of our 500 test centres throughout the UK. As the UK’s number 1 MOT tester you can rest assured that your vehicle is in good hands.