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Essential documents

Your car's MOT certificate has run out. When may you legally drive it?

  • For up to seven days after the certificate expires
  • To a pre-booked MOT test appointment
    Correct
  • Anywhere, as long as the car is roadworthy
  • To and from any garage at any time

Why?

A car needs its first MOT test when it is three years old, and after that it must have a valid MOT every year. Driving without a valid MOT is against the law. The main exception is that you may drive to a test you have already booked, or to a garage for repairs. The MOT is one of the documents listed in Annex 3 of The Highway Code.

Highway Code rule Annex 3

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