MOT for new cars: when is the first MOT due?

Buying a new car means a few years without MOT worries. But exactly how many? Most drivers know it's "about three years", yet the actual date catches plenty of people out, especially if the car was pre-registered, used as a demonstrator or imported. The test itself is rarely the problem: in DVSA's 2023 data, 88% of three-year-old cars passed first time. Getting the date right is the harder part.

The basic rule

In England, Scotland and Wales, a new car must have its first MOT by the 3rd anniversary of its first registration. After that, it needs an MOT every year.

In Northern Ireland, cars are first tested at 4 years old by the Driver and Vehicle Agency, and then annually.

The date that matters is registration, not purchase

The clock starts when the car is first registered, not when you take delivery. Usually those dates are close together, but not always.

Pre-registered cars

Dealers sometimes register new cars in their own name to hit sales targets, then sell them as "pre-registered" or "delivery mileage" cars. The registration date might be several months before you buy, so your first MOT could come round sooner than you expect.

Ex-demonstrators

Demo cars are registered when the dealer starts using them. A car you buy at six months old needs its first MOT two and a half years later.

Imported cars

A car imported from another country is usually first registered in the UK when it arrives. If it's already more than three years old, it will normally need an MOT before it can be registered here. If it's newer, the timing can depend on when it was first registered abroad, so check carefully.

How to find your first registration date

1. Check the V5C logbook. The "date of first registration" is printed on it.
2. Look at the number plate. The two digits on a current-style plate show the registration period: for example, 23 means March to August 2023, and 73 means September 2023 to February 2024.
3. Run a reg check. Our free reg check shows the first registration date from the DVLA record.
4. Use the calculator. Enter the date into our MOT due date calculator, choosing Great Britain or Northern Ireland, to see the exact deadline.

Testing early

You don't have to wait until the anniversary. You can take the first MOT up to one month minus a day before it's due and keep the same renewal date in future years. If the car fails, you'll still have time to fix it before it becomes illegal to drive. Our guide on how early you can MOT a car explains the window.

What usually fails at a first MOT

A three-year-old car is usually in good shape, but it can still fail. The most common issues on young cars are:

• Tyres worn below the limit of 1.6mm, especially on cars that have done high mileage or lots of town driving
• Wiper blades that smear or have split
• Bulbs, including the number plate lamp and brake lights
• Brake pads and discs on high-mileage cars
• Windscreen chips in the driver's line of sight
• Warning lights, sometimes for minor sensor faults

Our pre-MOT checklist covers 20 checks you can do yourself beforehand.

MOT vs warranty servicing

New cars come with a manufacturer's warranty and a service schedule. It's easy to assume the service covers the MOT, but they're separate:

Many dealers offer to do the first MOT at the same time as the third-year service, which saves a trip. Read more in our guide to MOT vs service.

Lease and company cars

Many lease contracts run for three or four years. If yours runs past the third anniversary of registration, the car will need an MOT during the lease. Check your agreement to see who arranges and pays for it. It's often you, even when maintenance is included.

New cars and vehicle tax

Your first MOT and vehicle tax are linked. When the car reaches three years old, the DVLA will expect a valid MOT before the tax can be renewed. If the MOT and tax dates fall close together, make sure the MOT is done first.

Buying a car that's nearly three years old

Two- and three-year-old cars are popular used buys, often coming off finance or lease deals. If you buy one, the first MOT may be only weeks away, and the seller might not mention it.

1. Check the first registration date before you buy, using the V5C or a reg check.
2. Work out the first MOT date and how long you'll have before it's due.
3. Ask whether the third-year service has been done. On many cars it's due at the same time, and it can include items such as brake fluid.
4. Look at the tyres. They're the most common first-MOT failure, and a set can be a significant cost.
5. Negotiate. If the first MOT is due soon and the tyres are worn, that's a fair point to raise on price.

What happens at the first test

The first MOT is exactly the same test as any other. There's no lighter version for newer cars. The tester checks lights, brakes, steering, suspension, tyres, seatbelts, visibility, emissions and the body, and records the mileage. The result goes onto the DVSA database, starting the car's public MOT history.

The test usually takes around 45 minutes to an hour. You don't need to bring the V5C or any other paperwork, just the car and the locking wheel nut key if it has one. The maximum fee for a car is £54.85.

Set up reminders now

Three years is a long time, and it's easy to forget. When you buy a new car:

1. Note the first registration date from the V5C.
2. Work out the first MOT date with the calculator and add it to your calendar.
3. Add the first MOT due date to your calendar from the car's report, or sign up for DVSA's free MOT reminder.
4. Keep the V5C, service book and warranty documents together.

If your new car fails

A fail at the first MOT is frustrating, but it's usually for something simple. Check whether the faulty item is covered by the manufacturer's warranty: a failed bulb or worn tyre won't be, but a faulty sensor or a component that has failed early often is. Take the refusal certificate to the dealer and ask. If the repair is covered, the dealer may also be able to arrange the retest.

After the first MOT

Once the car has passed, it needs an MOT every year. The new certificate lasts until one year after the old expiry date (if tested within the early window) or one year minus a day from the test date. You can check the exact expiry at any time with our MOT due date checker.

Summary

A new car needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its first registration in Great Britain, or the fourth in Northern Ireland. The date runs from registration, not purchase, so pre-registered and demonstrator cars can be due sooner than you think. Check the V5C, set a reminder, and test in the month before it's due.