Book your MOT in Leeds

In the UK, MOT tests judge the roadworthiness and safety of vehicles. Excluding a few exemptions, almost all vehicles need to be MOT tested and receive a valid MOT certificate at least once a year.

It’s worth noting that a vehicle can receive “Minor” faults on its MOT test and pass, but if the vehicle has any “Major” faults, these needs to be repaired before the vehicle is allowed to be driven again on the road legally and awarded with a valid MOT certificate.

MOT checks carried out on your vehicle are comprehensive, and make sure all aspects and components are safe and roadworthy. A car’s overall performance is usually based on four key areas, which are:

Safety

The following safety features of a vehicle are checked make sure they meet DVLA’s legal standards:

• The body and structure
• Exhausts systems, fuel and emissions
• Steering and suspension (not including wheel alignment)
• Seat belts
• Tyres
• Brakes
• Electrical equipment, including lamps and reflectors
• Mirrors & windscreen

You’ll notice that the engine, gearbox, and clutch are not mentioned in the list above, and that’s because they are not checked on MOT tests.

Existing issues

If your vehicle have any existing problems, MOT garages will identify where there are potential aspects of the vehicle which could get worse in the future. This helps prevent breakdowns and accidents occurring in the future.

Emissions

Vehicles need to meet government standards when it comes to the amount of emissions they produce.

Functionality

All of a vehicle’s components need to function properly in order for it to be deemed roadworthy.

To find out more about what is and isn’t included on an MOT test, read our guide: Your complete MOT checklist.

No, on the whole, you cannot drive a car without having a valid MOT. Whilst there are some exception, if your car fails its MOT, or the MOT runs out, you’re not legally allowed to drive the vehicle unless you are driving to a pre-booked MOT test.

Driving a vehicle without an MOT is also unsafe and dangerous, not only for you, but also for other drivers. Read more on this in our guide: Drive without an MOT – what you need to know.

Most insurance providers require customers to have a valid MOT certificate to confirm that a car is roadworthy before being able to offer comprehensive insurance coverage. While some insurers may offer third-party insurance without an MOT, this is rare and usually comes with conditions. Additionally, driving without an MOT can invalidate your insurance.

To understand the specific requirements and conditions which relate to MOTs and insurance, it’s important that you check your insurance policy documents carefully. If you need help understanding how your car insurance policy works, get in touch with us. We’d love to help.

The maximum fee you can pay for a car MOT is £54.85, according to GOV.UK. For a standard motorcycle MOT you shouldn’t pay more than £29.65. An MOT also doesn’t require you to pay a VAT fee either.

However, if your vehicle is assessed to have major faults, you’ll need to pay the garage to get them fixed in order for the vehicle to receive a valid MOT certificate and be eligible for driving safely on UK roads. The cost for those repairs is on top of the charge for the MOT test itself.