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‘Costly’ MOT mistake to keep away from as a whole lot of motorists danger hefty £2.5k fines

MOT exams are essential if you wish to legally drive on the highway.

Now specialists claimed practically half of motorists might be prone to being caught out by one expensive mistake in 2024. Data from Scrap Car Comparison revealed some essential stats.

It discovered 47% of UK drivers carried out their MOT greater than a month earlier than the expiry date of their current DVSA certificates.

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Also 18% admitted they “always” or “frequently” select to do that as a substitute of ready for his or her take a look at date. While that is authorized, highway customers may get caught out a 12 months later.



Team of mechanics working at an auto repair shop looking at a car's chassis
Experts warned concerning the expensive mistake

This is as a result of authorities guidelines state MOTs should be carried out as much as one calendar month earlier than an expiry date to protect the anniversary.

Getting a take a look at early means their outdated MOT expiry date is not legitimate. Instead, drivers want to recollect their new particulars for the next years.

David Kottuan, Operations Manager at Scrap Car Comparison, mentioned: “Motorists should consider carefully the date that they book their annual MOT checks.

“You can examine your automotive’s MOT historical past on-line on the Government web site to work out the earliest date for the take a look at to be carried out.”



The engine engineer is checking and repairing the car. Off-site care services
It’s vital to cross your MOT take a look at yearly

If timed proper, David claimed you may virtually have 13 months in your MOT certificates, however drivers ought to pay attention to it being accomplished too early.

He added: “Caution should be taken especially if your car fails this early test, as carrying it out early doesn’t mean you can still use your old certificate, and instead means you no longer have a valid MOT certificate, and the vehicle is no longer road safe in the eyes of the law.”

Failing an earlier MOT take a look at may additionally see motorists caught out with highway customers successfully banned from driving. Although the outdated certificates hasn’t reached a 12 months, it nonetheless will not be legitimate.

Those who ignore the foundations can be illegally driving their car and might be slapped with a hefty £1,000 high quality. This may rise to £2,500 with a driving ban and three penalty factors if the motorist is concerned in an incident.

“Based on our findings, it seems many drivers are currently thinking in this way and making mistakes when it comes to their MOTs, so we hope the advice helps more drivers get it right in 2024,” David concluded.

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