How often is a car required to have an MOT?

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Accepted Answer

In the UK, most cars need an MOT test once a year, starting from the third anniversary of their registration date. The general rule: 0–3 years old — no MOT required (new cars are exempt) 3+ years old — an MOT is required annually, and the car must be retested before the current certificate expires Some vehicle types have different rules — for example, ambulances, taxis, and some other specially classified vehicles need their first test earlier than 3 years. Vehicles over 40 years old can be exempt from MOT testing entirely if they haven't been substantially modified, though many owners choose to keep testing them voluntarily. You can get your MOT done up to one month (minus a day) before it expires and still keep the same renewal date going forward, which is worth doing if you don't want your test date to slowly drift later each year.