Kick the Tyres
Kick the Tyres

First car guide

Just got your first car?Three things before you drive.

The paperwork nobody explains, when your MOT is due, and the cheap checks that stop most fails.

Start here

Before you drive it away

  1. 1
    Tax it in your name
  2. 2
    Insure it
  3. 3
    Check it has an MOT

Before you drive

The three must-dos

  1. Tax it in your name

    Tax doesn't pass to you from the last owner. Tax it online on gov.uk before you drive, using the reference on the new keeper slip from the logbook (V5C).

  2. Insure it

    You must be insured before you drive it, even just to get it home. Driving without insurance can mean a £300 fine and 6 points.

  3. Check it has an MOT

    Most cars over 3 years old need a valid MOT to be driven. Enter the plate below to see when it runs out and its chance of passing the next one.

When is its MOT due?

See its MOT date, its history and what to check first. Free, no sign-up.

UK

Your MOT

How the MOT works

First MOT at 3 years

A new car needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration, then one every year.

Book up to a month early

You keep the same renewal date, and get time to fix a fail. How early can I MOT my car?

No MOT, no driving

Except to a booked test or for repairs. The fine is up to £1,000. Can I drive without an MOT?

What fails

Most fails are things you can check

12% of cars failed their first MOT in 2025. 6 in 10 of those failed only on things you can check yourself. These are the most common.

  1. 1
    Wipers that don't clear the screenSwap the blades. It's a five-minute job.
  2. 2
    A cut in a tyreLook at both sides of every tyre, not just the tread.
  3. 3
    Headlights aimed too high or lowA garage can adjust them in minutes.
  4. 4
    Tread below 1.6mmUse a 20p coin. If you can see its outer band, get a new tyre.
  5. 5
    Brake pads worn thinListen for squealing or grinding, and get them checked.
  6. 6
    Out of washer fluidTop it up the morning of the test.

Most common first MOT fails in Great Britain, 2024. Then do the full 10-minute home check a few weeks before your test.

Questions

First car questions, answered

When is my car's first MOT due?

By the third anniversary of its registration. After that, every year. If you bought a car that's already over 3, it needs a new MOT by the date its current one runs out.

Does the road tax transfer when I buy a used car?

No. Tax doesn't pass to the new owner. You need to tax the car yourself before you drive it, using the reference on the new keeper slip from the logbook (V5C).

Can I drive my new car home straight after buying it?

Only if it's taxed in your name, you're insured to drive it and it has a valid MOT. Sort the tax and insurance before you collect it.

Can I drive without an MOT?

Only to a pre-booked MOT test or to a garage for repairs needed to pass. Otherwise you can be fined up to £1,000.

How much does an MOT cost?

The most a test centre can charge for a car is £54.85. Many charge less, so it's worth shopping around.

How early can I get an MOT?

Up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out, and you keep the same renewal date. That gives you time to fix anything before the old one expires.

Rules from gov.uk. Fail figures: DVSA anonymised MOT results, 1,414,444 first MOTs on cars in Great Britain in 2025; most common fails from 2024. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Kick the Tyres is not linked to DVSA.

Keep reading

More guides

See all guides