Drivers could face fines of up to £1,000 if they are caught driving a vehicle without an MOT.

During the first lockdown the Government automatically extended certificates for six months for motorists whose vehicle was due an MOT between March 30 and July 31, but that extension ran out at the end of January.

Mandatory MOT testing was reintroduced in August and MOT service and vehicle repair garages have been allowed to remain open during the current restrictions.

You cannot use your vehicle if its MOT runs out and there are fines of up to £1,000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT.

MOT tests are important for road safety and ensure that vehicle parts, including tyres, seatbelts, brakes, lights and exhausts are in proper working order.

When to get an MOT

You must get an MOT for your vehicle by either:

- the third anniversary of its registration

- the anniversary of its last MOT, if it’s over three years old; An MOT lasts for a year. The date it runs out is printed on your current MOT pass certificate.

You can get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date.

You can get an MOT earlier, but the renewal date for the following year will change to one year (minus a day) from the date the vehicle last passed its MOT.

If the MOT has run out

If your tax is due to run out, register your vehicle as ‘off the road’ – you cannot renew your vehicle tax if your MOT has expired. You cannot drive or park your vehicle on the road if the MOT has run out. You can be prosecuted if caught.

The only exceptions are to drive it:

- to or from somewhere to be repaired

- to a pre-arranged MOT test

Booking an MOT

You must use an approved MOT test centre to get your MOT.

Only centres showing the blue sign with three white triangles can carry out your MOT.

There are maximum fees that the MOT centre can charge. This depends on the type of vehicle.

The maximum fee for a car is £54.85, and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle.

During the MOT, important parts on your vehicle will be checked to make sure they meet the legal standards.

You can watch the test from a viewing area but you’re not allowed to interrupt the tester.

Parts that are tested

Parts checked in the MoT include the body, vehicle structure and general items to check that they’re free from excessive corrosion or damage in specific areas and there are no sharp edges likely to cause injury.

Other checks will be made on the towbar, fuel system, exhaust emissions, seatbelts, seats, doors, mirrors, load security, brakes, tyres and wheels, registration plates, lights, wipers and washers, windscreen, horn, steering and suspension, vehicle identification number (VIN), and visible electrical wiring and the battery.

The MOT inspection manual tells you everything that’s tested, how the MOT tester will check it and the reasons things can be failed.

The test does not cover the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox.

If your vehicle passes the MOT you’ll get an MOT certificate from the test centre and it will be recorded in the MOT database. You might also get a list of ‘minor’ or ‘advisory’ problems to monitor or fix in the future.

Your vehicle will fail if the test result lists ‘dangerous’ or ‘major’ problems with your vehicle.

You might not be allowed to drive until you fix the problems.

You might also get a list of ‘minor’ or ‘advisory’ problems to monitor or fix in the future.

If your vehicle fails the MOT you’ll get a ‘refusal of an MOT test certificate’ from the test centre and it will be recorded in the MOT database. You can appeal the result if you think it’s wrong.

You can take your vehicle away if your current MOT certificate is still valid and no ‘dangerous’ problems were listed in the MOT. Otherwise, you’ll need to get it repaired before you can drive.

You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get three penalty points for driving a vehicle that has failed its MOT because of a ‘dangerous’ problem.

In some cases your vehicle can have a partial retest for free or a reduced MOT fee.

You can take your vehicle away if your MOT certificate is still valid.

If your MOT has run out you can take your vehicle to have the failed defects fixed or a pre-arranged MOT test appointment.

In both cases, your vehicle still needs to meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness at all times or you can be fined.