Ministry of Transport Test / MOT

The MOT is a UK safety and road-worthiness test for all vehicles over three years of age. It applies to every vehicle that is kept or used on a public road. Your vehicle must pass an MOT test annually and until it does so and you gain a MOT certificate, you will not be able to buy car insurance.

The MOT test is designed to ensure that cars on British roads are roadworthy and safe. An MOT certificate can only be granted by a qualified mechanic. The safety of the driver, as well as any other road users, is of paramount importance. A car that is not roadworthy can cause great damage to road users if it is involved in an accident. You are committing an offence if you drive a vehicle which does not have a valid MOT certificate.

The MOT test itself checks a range of your vehicle's functions such as tyre tread wear and engine performance. The vehicle must pass all the tests to the required standard; if not the car will fail the MOT and repairs will need to be made before it becomes roadworthy again.

The cost of an MOT is determined by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and thus will be the same regardless of which mechanic you use. For a car (with up to eight passenger seats), this fee is currently £50.35 (as at May 2008).

Although an MOT certifies the roadworthy condition of your vehicle at that point in time, you should not consider it an excuse to neglect repairs or general maintenance of your vehicle. Doing so could render your insurance invalid, since maintenance of the vehicle to a good standard is often one of your 'duties' as specified in the policy contract.