Realizing you've missed a crucial appointment may cause fear and anger, as we are all too familiar with it. Although keeping track of routine auto maintenance tasks can be challenging, it's crucial to do so for the safety of both you and other road users. The first thought that probably crosses your mind is, "Can I still drive my car without an MOT?"

We'll talk about potential issues, potential penalties, and ways to avoid operating a vehicle without an MOT.

Without an MOT, is it possible to drive a car?

Driving a car without an MOT is getting prohibited in addition to posing a risk to other road users' safety.

To ensure that all vehicles adhere to the standards for being roadworthy, MOT testing is thus conducted following DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) regulations. You won't be able to renew your road tax without an MOT, and you won't have proof that your car is safe to drive.

There are a few exceptions, though, and you won't require an MOT if:

You are traveling to the testing facility for your car's MOT appointment- This is thus permitted as long as the vehicle is secure, but there's no reason to wait until the last minute when you may schedule your test up to a month before your MOT expires! You must have a copy of your appointment on hand in case you are thus stopped before getting to the testing facility.

You transport it to and from a different garage for repairs- It's crucial to confirm with your mechanic first if the vehicle is safe to be on the road if your test found enough issues to cause an MOT failure.

The age of your automobile is under three years- There's minimal need to perform lengthy inspections on brand-new vehicles because it's thought that they are in excellent condition. (Learn how leasing a car works if you prefer to have a reliable automobile that is always there when you need it!

Older than 40 years old is your car- You may declare your vehicle MOT exempt once it reaches 40. You will still need to keep your automobile in excellent condition, though, because car insurance policies demand that it be roadworthy.

There may still be problems with this, so continue reading to learn more. If your MOT fails while your prior MOT is still in effect, you are theoretically still allowed to drive your car.

The presence of hazardous problems, on the other hand, indicates that the MOT tester has discovered flaws that pose a direct risk to your safety and the safety of others. The vehicle shouldn't be in your possession, and the issues should be getting fixed right now.

What occurs if you are thus found driving without an MOT?

Driving without a valid MOT may have significant repercussions, including risk to your safety and the safety of other road users, as well as substantial fines that are far more expensive than the cost of an MOT.

You may initially be subject to fines of up to £1,000 if you are available driving without a current MOT certificate. But if your vehicle is thus deemed dangerous, you might receive:

Three points against a driver's license
Up to £2,500 in fines
Driving is getting prohibited
Driving with a recent MOT failure and an expired MOT might result in sanctions. Although your MOT may technically be in order, you risk facing any or all of the above penalties if the police stop your car and find that it doesn't adhere to the minimum requirements for roadworthiness.

Additionally, your insurance may become void if you get into an accident without a current MOT. Insurance companies could decline to pay out, so if you're found to be at fault for the collision or if there are any injuries, you might wind up having to foot the bill for both your automobile and the damaged vehicle.

You are free to drive your automobile elsewhere or to a different garage for repairs, but it's a good idea to organize services to move the car for you unless your technician deems it safe to do so. While this will cost you money, it will spare you the stress of operating a vehicle in a hazardous situation and the possibility of paying hefty fines.

An MOT check Northampton is never necessary if you are leasing an automobile for three years or less. As we previously said, MOTs are not necessary for leasing automobiles under three years old. As a result, you may skip this step.