How early can I MOT?

[LBT123456]

My car is 3 years old in August. I'm taking it into Europe around June time and will be bringing it back sometime early October.

How early can I get the MOT done in my case where I don't have one already? The Gov site (https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot) says -1 month from the anniversary if you already have an MOT but isn't clear about the case where you don't.

It just says "You must get an MOT for your vehicle by either: the third anniversary of its registration or the anniversary of its last MOT, if it’s over 3 years old"

Any ideas? Can I get the MOT in May? i.e. 3 months early, realise the anniversary would then be May and not August

Edited by LBT123456 on Thursday 20th March 18:50

[Bigends]

I'd have thought you could get it tested any time as long as its by the time the car is three years old

[MrBen.911]

Whenever you like. You could have your car MOT'd every day if you wanted. Doesn't have to be 'due'.

[MrBen.911]

LBT123456 said:

The Gov site (https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot) says -1 month from the anniversary if you already have an MOT but isn't clear about the case where you don't.

That's only if you want to maintain the same expiry date year on year.

[paul_c123]

To preserve the anniversary, 1 month - 1 day.

If the anniversary isn't to be preserved, any time then its good for 12 months. I don't know what happens if you MoT a car before its 2 years old though, I would assume the fact its been MoT'd and has an expiry, wipes out the "no MoT needed until 3 years old".

[LBT123456]

Thanks all, I'd assumed you could get it done any time, the Gov site had confused me, easily done. Thanks again for replying

[S13_Alan]

paul_c123 said:

I don't know what happens if you MoT a car before its 2 years old though, I would assume the fact its been MoT'd and has an expiry, wipes out the "no MoT needed until 3 years old".

Sure there was a thread on here with one like that recently and the conclusion was that it doesn't.

Perhaps someone will remember which one if folk are curious.

[mcflurry]

The only problem with MOTing it in June 2025 is that next year's renewal date will be in June 2026, rather than August 2026..

[davek_964]

mcflurry said:

The only problem with MOTing it in June 2025 is that next year's renewal date will be in June 2026, rather than August 2026..

The OP said as much in the original post.

[fido]

if the due date is such a problem just SORN it for a month or so next time at £50 a pop it doesn’t bother me even if i did it twice a year!

[GasEngineer]

fido said:

if the due date is such a problem just SORN it for a month or so next time at £50 a pop it doesn’t bother me even if i did it twice a year!

If the car is on the road in another country surely it can't be SORNed.

[paul_c123]

fido said:

if the due date is such a problem just SORN it for a month or so next time at £50 a pop it doesn’t bother me even if i did it twice a year!

Why? SORN status doesn't affect when an MoT is due, or not.

[Truckosaurus]

paul_c123 said:

Why? SORN status doesn't affect when an MoT is due, or not.

The suggestion is that the car sits unused (and untaxed) for a month with no MoT.

Back to the original question. The OP could always book an MoT in Dover for the day of their return from the continent.

[mcflurry]

davek_964 said:

mcflurry said:

The only problem with MOTing it in June 2025 is that next year's renewal date will be in June 2026, rather than August 2026..

The OP said as much in the original post.

So they did - apologies