MOT and tax check
One registration, both answers. The MOT and tax check shows whether the car has a valid MOT and when it expires, and whether it is taxed and when that runs out, side by side with the days left on each. The MOT comes from the DVSA and the tax from the DVLA; we put them on one page because almost nobody needs one without the other.
What you see
Two tiles at the top of the report: MOT, with valid or expired, the expiry date and the days remaining; and tax, with taxed, untaxed or SORN, the due date and the annual rate. Under them sits the vehicle's identity so you can confirm you have the right car, then the full MOT history with the mileage at each test. If either status has lapsed the tile says so in words, not just a colour, and the report explains what that means for using the car.
For your own car, the page is a quick way to check both dates before a long trip or at the start of the month. For a car you are buying, it tells you whether the seller has kept on top of the basics, and whether you will be driving it home legally: remember that tax never transfers with the car, so you will need to tax it yourself before you leave, whatever the tile says.
Why the two dates rarely match
The MOT date is fixed by the car's test history and moves with each annual test. The tax date is fixed by when the keeper last paid and runs to the end of a month. They only coincide by chance, which is why so many people lose track of one of them. A valid MOT is also needed to tax a car that is more than three years old, so an expired MOT usually stops the tax being renewed online; if you see an expired MOT and tax due within the month, the owner will need a test before they can pay. Save the car on the report and we will email you a month before either date.
MOT and tax questions
Can I check MOT and tax together?
Yes, that is what this page does. Enter the registration and both statuses appear on one report with the car's details and MOT history.
Can I tax a car without an MOT?
Not if the car is over three years old and the MOT has expired, except for a small number of exempt vehicles. You will need a pass certificate first, and the DVLA checks the MOT record automatically when you pay.
What happens if my MOT or tax has run out?
Driving without a valid MOT risks a fine of up to £1,000 and can invalidate insurance; keeping an untaxed car on a public road brings automatic DVLA penalties. The only allowance is driving to a pre-booked MOT test.
Why is the MOT expiry date different from the test date?
A test taken up to a month before the old certificate expired keeps the original anniversary, so the new expiry is thirteen months after the test date rather than twelve.
Why does the report say no MOT?
The car is under three years old, is more than 40 years old and exempt, or has been imported and not yet tested in the UK. The report says which.
Last updated 9 November 2026. MOT data: DVSA. Tax data: DVLA. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.