What is an MOT? The MOT (Ministry of Transport) test is Britain’s annual test of vehicle safety, roadworthiness and emissions. An MOT is a legal requirement in the UK, and if you own a car above a certain age, you’ll need to have regular MOTs. So, we have created an MOT guide that helps you to better understand what the MOT involves, when your MOT is due and what happens if your car fails.

Why your car requires an MOT certificate

The MOT test is designed to ensure that your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards: as such, it’s something that must be carried out annually.

You’re legally required to get an MOT for a vehicle either on the third anniversary of its registration, or the anniversary of its last MOT, if the vehicle is over three years old.

There are a few vehicles that need to be tested having been on the road for only a year. These include ambulances, taxis and private passenger vehicles with more than 16 passenger seats.

How do you know when your MOT is due?

To check whether your vehicle requires an MOT test or check its MOT history, you can do so on Gov.UK.

An MOT is certified for a year and the date it runs out will be printed on the most recent certificate. You can book an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before the certificate runs out and you’ll still be permitted to keep the same renewal date.

You cannot legally drive your vehicle on the road without a valid MOT certificate, so if your MOT has expired you will be prosecuted if caught by the police.

There are two exceptions to this:

• If you’re driving to or from somewhere to have the vehicle repaired
• If you’re heading to a pre-arranged MOT test

How do you book an MOT for your vehicle?

MOT’s must be carried out at an approved MOT test centre. An approved test centre will show the blue sign (shown above) with three white triangles — the symbol that represents certification.

What is the most a garage can charge for an MOT?

There is a maximum amount that an MOT test centre can charge. Check what the current maximum fee is. Don’t pay more than this. VAT also cannot be charged on an MOT fee.

What is checked at an MOT test?

A number of important parts on your vehicle will be checked to ensure that they meet the legal standards. These include the brakes, fuel system, lights, windscreen wipers and exhaust system. However, an MOT doesn’t cover the condition of the engine, the clutch, or the gearbox.

Understanding the result of your vehicle’s MOT

The MOT result is presented as either a pass or fail. If your car fails the test, you’ll be given a list of things that need to be repaired before it can pass. If it passes, you’ll be given an MOT certificate from the test centre and the result of the test will be recorded in the national MOT database.

You’ll also notice that your MOT certificate will show the mileage recorded at the current and previous three test passes. It’s important to have a quick look at these figures, which are recorded as the ‘odometer reading and history’, as you need to report any mistakes on the reading to the MOT centre within seven days in order to obtain a replacement certificate.

Your full MOT history, including both passes and fails, can be easily accessed on the Gov.uk website. Checking this history before your MOT appointment allows you to review previous issues and ensure potential concerns are addressed beforehand, minimising the chance of failing due to avoidable reasons.

What most often fails an MOT?

It is easy for a car to fail an MOT. Faulty headlight bulbs, inadequate suspension, worn brake pads and tyres with low tread depth are common reasons for failure. There are some very simple ways to fail that drivers may not even be aware of. For example, screen wash that isn’t topped up or warning lights on the dashboard will see your car being failed immediately. Believe it or not, a car full of rubbish can mean a failure before the test even starts – this is because an MOT tester needs to be able to easily access every part of your vehicle.

What happens if your vehicle fails an MOT?

If your vehicle fails, you will be given a ‘Refusal of an MOT test certificate’ document from the test centre, and the result will be recorded in the MOT database.

In the result of a fail, you can take your vehicle away if your MOT certificate is still valid. If your MOT has run out, you can still drive your car if it is to take it to a garage to have the failed defects fixed. Often you can have them fixed at the garage where the MOT test took place. If a dangerous defect is found during the MOT, and you want to move the vehicle, you will have to get it towed.

Your car insurance and tax will become invalid as soon as your car fails an MOT, or your MOT expires.

What is an advisory?

Whether your car passes or fails its MOT, your test certificate may include ‘advisories’ – these are issues with the vehicle which the examiner has noted that need addressing. They are not in themselves enough to fail an MOT, but if left unresolved they may do in the future.

What happens if you want to appeal your MOT?

You can appeal against the result of an MOT test. Usually this would be if you think it should have passed, but you can also appeal if you think the vehicle should have failed. You do this through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), by filling in a complaint form and sending it to the DVSA within 14 working days of the test. You will be offered an appointment within five days to recheck your vehicle - you’ll need to pay the full test fee again - and the DVSA will send you an inspection report listing any vehicle defects and advisory changes that need to be made.

If you want to, you can take your own action against an MOT test centre through trading standards, legal proceedings or through reporting the centre to the police. The DVSA won’t help you in any way if you decide on this course of action.

What happens if you drive without a valid MOT certificate?

If you are caught driving a vehicle without a valid MOT you can be fined £1,000. However, you are more likely to be given a fixed penalty notice fine of £100, which has to be paid within 28 days.

If your car failed with a major fault and has been classed as dangerous to drive, you can be fined up to £2,500 if you are caught driving without a valid MOT. In these circumstances you could be banned from driving for six months and be given penalty points on your licence.

How do I get a replacement MOT certificate?

If you’ve lost or damaged your MOT certificate, you can get a replacement online through the Gov.uk website. To do this, you’ll need the vehicle registration number and either the 11-digit reference number from your V5C logbook or the most recent MOT test number.

You can also request a replacement certificate in person from any MOT centre. Simply provide your vehicle registration and proof of identity, and they’ll issue a new one for a small fee.

Keep your car in good condition with parts from ASM

One of the most effective ways to ensure your car is in great condition – and has a better chance of passing its MOT – is through replacing those older parts. In our used car parts store you can search by your car registration, make and model and find all the parts that we have available for your vehicle. You can also use our parts enquiry form.

How is car tax (VED) calculated?

Ultimately, the car tax you pay will differ depending on how environmentally friendly the car is. That’s because the amount of tax you pay on your vehicle is based on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) it emits into the atmosphere.

For cars first registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017, the rates are variable, divided into bands from ‘A’ to ‘M’. Each band signifies the number of emissions allowed by the vehicle. ‘A’ is the band for vehicles with the least CO2 emissions, all of which are currently completely exempt from car tax. However, this is set to change soon. Most standard petrol or diesel cars fall within band E, which are charged at £180 annually.

Car tax for older vehicles

Cars which were registered before 1st March 2001 are taxed based on the size of their engine. Generally, those with engines smaller than 1549cc pay £200 per year while larger models and light goods vehicles with engine sizes over 1549cc require a yearly payment of £325.

But now a rolling 40-year car tax exemption for classic vehicles is in place. If your vehicle was built 40 or more years ago, it should fall under this exemption. April is the key month. So, for example, a car first registered in 1984 would be exempt from VED in April 2024.

What are the current vehicle tax rules?

Here is a summary of the car tax exemptions and most important things to remember.

• Diesel cars from 1 April 2018 are charged a higher first year rate unless they meet RDE2 emission standards*
• For all cars registered after 1 April 2020, the first-year rate is likely to be higher than previous years, as official CO2 measurements rose due to changes in the testing procedure
• The standard rate of car tax kicks in after the first year. From April 2023, drivers paid £180 for petrol and diesel cars and £170 for hybrids and alternative fuel cars
• Zero-emission cars (such as 100% battery electric vehicles) are currently exempt from car tax
• The £40,000 rule for vehicles that are not zero emission. Vehicles with a list price of over £40,000 incur a supplementary £390 per year for five years after registration on top of the standard rate

*RDE stands for Real Driving Emissions. This is the test that can be used by vehicle manufacturers to test the emissions a car produces under real driving conditions. RDE was introduced in 2017 and was made mandatory for all new cars from 2019.

How do I check my vehicle is taxed?

It’s easy to check whether the car you’re driving has had its vehicle excise duty paid. If you’re unsure about a rental car, or simply want to check your own tax status, you can enter the make of car and registration details at gov.uk.

How do I pay my car tax?

Motorists are expected to pay vehicle tax in advance through the DVLA. You can pay by debit or credit card, or via direct debit. You can pay by direct debit annually, six-monthly or monthly, but the annual charge will be less.

Vehicle tax changes in 2025

Car tax rules are changing on 1 April 2025.

Zero emission vehicles will no longer be exempt from car tax. Electric vehicles will pay a first-year rate, and a standard annual rate, which are currently £10 and £180 respectively. This is because EVs are starting to become more common on our roads, and the government cannot afford to have so many cars at a discounted tax rate. Zero emission vehicles with list prices of over £40,000 will also have to pay the supplementary £390 rate in addition to the standard VED rate.

Does car tax transfer to the new owner?

Leftover tax on used cars used to transfer to the new owner on purchase. However, this is no longer the case. When buying a car, the new owner takes responsibility for its taxation immediately. You can tax your vehicle online or at a Post Office. Sellers now receive a full refund for any of the months remaining on their car tax.

Beware of timing, sellers; you will only be refunded car tax for full calendar months. Making a transaction one week into a given month will entail taxing the vehicle for the whole of that month, regardless.

Can you drive a car without tax?

The car tax status of any vehicle can now be checked online using the make and registration details. Where enforcement agents could previously perform a simple inspection of paper vehicle tax discs, checks are now performed digitally. The police, the DVLA and other agencies utilise automatic number plate recognition cameras (or ANPR cameras) linked with a nationwide electronic vehicle register.

ASM can help you find the best used car

If you’re wondering how to tax a used car, does that mean you already in the market for your next car? ASM Auto Recycling has an extensive range of repairable vehicles, with regular online salvage auctions. Read our guide to buying used cars at online auctions. As an Authorised Approved Treatment Facility, we can also take unwanted used cars to be scrapped, recycled, and resold where possible. Get a quote from us today.

What you need to know about regulations

Scrapping a car is relatively simple. However, as with all things vehicle-related, there is some paperwork involved.

There are thorough legal regulations in place that you must meet, all of them designed to help the scrapping industry operate whilst minimising the environmental damage caused. A number of car parts can be very environmentally damaging if not disposed of properly, so it’s understandable that the laws are in place.

The most important regulation is this, whether or not you’re selling your car online: It is a legal requirement that your vehicle is scrapped by an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF).

ATF licences are issued either by the Environment Agency or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, and any firm will be able to demonstrate their certification. You can be prosecuted for scrapping with a non-licensed firm. Rest assured, ASM Auto Recycling is a licensed ATF.

What do I need to scrap my car?

So what documents do you need to scrap a car?

There are a few documents you’ll need to scrap your car or to sell it as salvage. They shouldn’t be hard to get together, but they are essential if you want your car to be scrapped and recycled by an Authorised Treatment Facility. They are the following:

• V5C registration certificate (logbook)
• Proof of address
• Photo ID (driving licence or passport)

The Certificate of Destruction

When an ATF agrees to scrap your vehicle, you will be issued a Certificate of Destruction (CoD). This will be delivered within seven days if you’re scrapping a car, light van or 3-wheeled motor vehicle. Again, it is a legal requirement.

The CoD is proof that you’ve handed the vehicle over and are no longer responsible for it, or for any related taxation.

If you’re scrapping a vehicle type not listed above, you won’t be able to obtain a CoD. However, the ATF will notify the DVLA, who will then update the vehicle’s record to show that it’s been scrapped.

If you have scrapped a vehicle type listed above, it is your responsibility to inform the DVLA that you’ve taken your vehicle to an ATF to be scrapped without keeping any of its parts. Failure to do so will result in a £1,000 fine!

At ASM Auto Recycling we handle all the paperwork for you!

V5C Vehicle Registration Certificate

Even in situations where the ATF and DVLA are responsible for registering your vehicle to be scrapped, you are still legally required to complete section 9 (V5C/3 form) of the V5C vehicle registration certificate and send it to the DVLA, or notify the DVLA online.

By acknowledging receipt, the DVLA in effect confirms that you were once the owner of the vehicle, and that you have authorised the scrapping.

How to scrap a car without a V5C

If you can’t locate your vehicle’s V5C document, all is not lost. Legally speaking, it is perfectly acceptable for you to notify the DVLA in writing, providing you include the following details:

• Confirmation that the vehicle was sold for scrap
• Proof of your address and other relevant personal information
• Contact details of the buyer
• The date of the sale
• The registration number, make and model of the car

Using your vehicle for parts: SORN your car

It may be that your vehicle has certain parts that you’d like to strip out and keep. This is particularly common with drivers who’ve spent money upgrading things like the exhaust or the wheel rims. If you want to remove parts of the vehicle before you scrap it, you’ll need to make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) to let the DVLA know that the vehicle is no longer being driven. This will also stop you having to pay insurance or vehicle tax.

The SORN will be valid until you take your vehicle to an authorised ATF, or notify the DVLA that you no longer own it.

Avoid cash payments when scrapping a car

If you’re offered cash for your used or scrap vehicle, be wary. It is illegal to scrap cars for cash across England, Scotland and Wales. The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 was changed in 2013 in order to reduce incidences of metal theft. Ensure payment is made to you via bank transfer or a non-transferable company cheque.

Scrapping a car with ASM Auto Recycling

We are an experienced vehicle scrapping firm that prides itself on paying fair prices and offering excellent levels of customer service. If you’re considering scrapping your vehicle, we will give you an instant online valuation, and handle all the paperwork for you.

It is important that you are aware of the legal and practical issues surrounding your cars so that you can come to an amicable solution.

If you both want the car

• The first stage is to gain a valuation of the vehicle, which can be done through ASM Auto Recycling’s free valuation service.
• Once you have a valuation, you then need to subtract any outstanding finance which exists on the vehicle, then decide whether either of you would be prepared to part with the vehicle in return for assets in other areas of your estate.
• For example, if the car is worth £4,000, minus £1,500 of outstanding finance, one party could offer £2,500 in return for the vehicle. In the event that neither party want to part with the vehicle, it could then be sold with each of your receiving £1,250 of the proceeds.

If you both have a car

• If you both own a car in your respective names, and have a 50/50 split of your assets, you will again need to obtain a valuation for both vehicles.
• By adding the values of both vehicles together, you can see how much each party is owed from the settlement. The owner of the cheaper car will then be owed their share of the total minus the value of their vehicle.
• For example, if one car is worth £3,000 and the other is worth £5,000, the total value is £8,000, with each party owed £4,000 from the settlement. The owner of the cheaper vehicle will therefore be due a further £1,000 from the estate.
• Again, if an agreement cannot be reached, you can sell both cars and split the proceeds equally.

Insurance

• It is likely that you will share an insurance policy across your vehicles, with both being named drivers, so when you split up you must ensure that you review your policies and amend them accordingly, otherwise your insurance could be invalid.
• Changing your address, marital status or maiden name can all have an impact on your policy, so it’s important that you let your provider know.

Registration documents

• In the event that your car is registered in your partner’s name, but you receive it as part of the financial settlement, you will need to amend the V5C registration document.
• To do so, your partner will need to sign the V5C to demonstrate that they are no longer the owner of the vehicle, while entering your own details as the new owner, and return the form to the DVLA.

Want to sell your car?  Click here for a free quote

Selling the vehicle

In the event that you decide to sell off the vehicle, you can do so in a number of ways, including:

• Private sale – you can place an advert in the local paper or automotive magazine, which will often give you a good price, but can be time consuming; you may also need to negotiate.
• Dealership – if your car is in good condition and hasn’t done a huge amount of miles, you may be able to sell it to a car dealer, but be prepared to sacrifice some of the sale price here for a quick sale.
• Scrap and recycling – for a really quick sale and competitive price, or if the car is damaged or unrepairable, ASM Auto Recycling can take the car off your hands, hassle-free.

As an Executor, you need to understand some of the steps involved when a vehicle forms part of an estate, although the family may wish to appoint a solicitor to do this job for you.

Applying for Grant of Probate or Confirmation

• If you have been named as an Executor in somebody else’s will, you won’t be able to administer any aspect of their estate until you are appointed Executor by Grant of Probate or Confirmation; to do so you will need to apply to the Probate Register, providing a valid Death Certificate.

Insurance, tax and MOT

• The requirement of transporting the car means you may need to drive the vehicle at some stage, which will require insurance, a valid tax disc and MOT.
• If you have Comprehensive insurance on your current vehicle, you should be able to drive other vehicles that don’t belong to you on a third party basis, although it is worth checking with your insurer.
• Arranging short term car insurance shouldn’t be too expensive, so it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Financial status of vehicle

• It is important that you find out if there is outstanding finance on the vehicle before proceeding finding a new buyer; this will need to be paid off prior to the estate profiting from the revenue of the sale.
• If you are unsure of the current financial status of the vehicle, you can check, for a small fee, via websites like HPI.

Registration certificate

• If you can’t find the registration certificate, you can easily apply for a new one by writing to the DVLA; make sure you enclose a copy of the Grant of Probate and Death Certificate to demonstrate that you are the designated Executor.

Selling the car

You can choose to sell the car in a variety of ways, take your time to choose the option best for you:

• Private sale – you can put an advert in the paper and find a local buyer; this will often give you a good price but can sometimes be time consuming and be prepared to haggle.
• Dealership – a dealer may be willing to buy your car if it is in good condition and hasn’t done huge amounts of miles, but he/she will push your price down in order to make their profit.
• Scrap and recycling – in the event that the car is fully-working, damaged or unrepairable, ASM Auto Recycling can take the car off your hands and give you a good price for it.

Click here for a free quote

What is SORN?

SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. It’s when you take a vehicle ‘off the road’, meaning you no longer intend to drive it, so it doesn’t require tax or insurance. You can find out more about this here.

How do I get my car back on the road after SORN?

If you have previously declared SORN on your car, but have decided to return it to the road, the main thing you need to do is get the vehicle taxed again using the 11 digit reference number on the V5C. This can be done online, by phoning the DVLA, or in some Post Office branches.

After taxing your car, you will also need to ensure that you have a valid car insurance policy in place and that it has an up-to-date MOT before you start driving again.

When will my SORN expire after I decide to put my car back on the road?

As soon as you apply for tax for your vehicle, your SORN will expire and you will be able to put your car back onto the road once it has been fully insured.

Can I drive my car to a garage for an MOT if it has a SORN?

Providing you have booked an MOT before driving your SORN car, you will be able to drive it to a garage for the appointment. However, it’s vital to ensure that you have made the appointment first because if you’re stopped on the way, the garage will be able to verify the car is coming in for an MOT.

If you are driving a car declared as SORN to a testing appointment, you may only drive it on a public road. If you are caught driving a SORN vehicle under any other circumstances, you are in danger of receiving a fine of up to £2,500.

What happens if I buy a SORN vehicle from a previous owner?

If you buy a car which has been registered as SORN by the vehicle’s previous owner, it is important to note that the SORN status will not transfer. This means that if you decide that you want to keep the vehicle off the road, you will need to re-apply for SORN.

If you’re already registered as the vehicle’s owner or legal keeper, you can apply for SORN by contacting the DVLA on the phone of using the online or postal form. If you aren’t registered as the vehicle owner before applying for SORN you can only apply by post after completing the applicable section in the V5C logbook or by filling in a V62 if you don’t have the log book.

Get in touch today!

If you have a question about getting your car back on the road after SORN, give ASM Auto Recycling a call today on 01844 268 940, or send an e-mail to admin at asm-autos dot co dot uk: we’ll be happy to help.