Free MOT Reminder: Never Miss Your MOT or Car Tax
Set up a free MOT reminder in under a minute. Enter your number plate and email address, and we'll email you 30 days before your MOT is due, again 7 days before if you still need it, and 14 days before your car tax runs out. The dates come from the official DVSA and DVLA records, and they update themselves after every renewal.
- Official DVSA and DVLA dates
- MOT and car tax in one place
- One-click unsubscribe
Updated · By Hamza Akram · How we handle your data
How our free MOT reminder works
Quick answer
Enter your registration and email address, then click the link in the confirmation email. We look up your MOT expiry date with DVSA and your tax due date with DVLA. After that, you get an MOT reminder 30 days before the expiry date, an optional last call 7 days before, and an optional car tax reminder 14 days before tax is due.
Here’s what happens behind the scenes, step by step:
- Enter your reg and email Type the number plate and the address you'd like reminders sent to. Choose the extra reminders you want.
- Confirm your email We send one email with a confirmation link. Nothing else is sent until you click it, so nobody can sign you up by mistake.
- We check the official dates Before each reminder is due, we look up the vehicle again. A new MOT or tax payment is therefore picked up automatically.
- Reminders arrive on time Each email shows the due date, the earliest test date that keeps your renewal date and a link to the full MOT history.
You don't need an account or a password. To stop reminders, simply click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email.
What each MOT reminder tells you
Every email is short and to the point. Instead of a generic nudge, it gives you the dates you need to book at the right time:
30-day MOT reminder
Sent a month before your MOT runs out. It shows the first day you can test and still keep your renewal date.
7-day last call
An optional second reminder, a week before the deadline. It's useful if life gets in the way.
Car tax reminder
An optional email 14 days before your vehicle tax is due, taken from the DVLA record.
Official dates only
Every date comes from DVSA and DVLA, not a guess based on the last test.
Fresh after renewal
Once you pass, the new expiry date replaces the old one, and the cycle starts again.
No spam, ever
Your email address is used for these reminders only. It's never shared or used for marketing.
MOT reminder or GOV.UK's reminder: which is better?
GOV.UK also runs a free MOT reminder service, which DVSA operates. It's a good service, and you can use it alongside ours. The table compares the two.
| Feature | MOT Check Online | GOV.UK MOT reminder |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free |
| How it's sent | Text message or email | |
| MOT reminder timing | 30 days before, plus an optional 7-day last call | One month before for cars, vans and motorcycles. Two months before for lorries, buses and large trailers |
| Car tax reminder | Optional, 14 days before tax is due | Not included |
| Earliest test date shown | Yes | No |
| Northern Ireland | Works wherever DVSA holds an MOT date | Not available. In Northern Ireland, a reminder comes by post 7 weeks before |
| Stopping reminders | One click in any email | Online, by text (standard rate) or by email link |
If you prefer a text message, sign up on GOV.UK's MOT reminder page as well. Using both costs nothing and gives you a safety net.
Do you get MOT reminders automatically?
No, not by default. DVSA doesn't send MOT reminders unless you've signed up for them. By contrast, DVLA sends vehicle tax reminders, either by post on a V11 letter or by email if you've asked for that.
Many garages send a courtesy MOT reminder to customers on their books. However, that's a favour, not a legal duty. If you've moved, changed garage or bought the car recently, it may never arrive. That's why a personal MOT reminder, tied to the registration rather than a garage's records, is the safest option.
There's no grace period
Your MOT runs out at the end of its expiry date. After that, you can only drive the vehicle to a pre-booked MOT or to a garage for repairs. A missed reminder is not a defence.
MOT and tax reminder: why get both
Your MOT and your vehicle tax are linked. You can't tax a vehicle that needs an MOT unless it has a valid one. So an expired MOT can also stop you renewing your car tax on time.
A combined MOT and tax reminder solves both at once. If your tax is due soon after your MOT, the reminders arrive in the right order. Bear in mind that a new MOT can take up to two days to show in the online record, so test early enough to tax without a rush.
If you pay your tax by Direct Debit, it renews itself. Even so, the tax reminder is a useful prompt to check that your bank details are up to date. You can see the current tax status at any time with our free car tax check.
When to book your MOT after a reminder
The 30-day MOT reminder arrives just before your booking window opens. That's deliberate. You can get an MOT up to a month, minus a day, before your current one runs out and still keep the same renewal date.
| MOT runs out | 30-day reminder sent | Book from | Pass in the window and it runs until |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 March 2027 | 14 February 2027 | 17 February 2027 | 16 March 2028 |
| 15 May 2027 | 15 April 2027 | 16 April 2027 | 15 May 2028 |
| 1 August 2027 | 2 July 2027 | 2 July 2027 | 1 August 2028 |
Testing earlier is allowed, but your renewal date then moves to a year from the test date. To work out the exact dates for your vehicle, use our MOT due date calculator.
What happens if you miss your MOT
Missing the date is easy to do, but the consequences are serious. Here's what's at stake:
- A fine of up to £1,000 for driving without a valid MOT.
- A bigger penalty for dangerous defects. Driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition can mean a fine of up to £2,500, three penalty points and a driving ban.
- Insurance problems. Your insurer may refuse to pay a claim if the vehicle had no valid MOT.
- Cameras that notice. Police number-plate cameras can flag vehicles with no valid MOT.
If your MOT has already run out, stop driving the vehicle except to a booked test. Then book the earliest MOT you can. Our MOT history check shows past advisories, so you can fix likely problems before the test.
Your data and how to stop reminders
We keep only what the MOT reminder needs: the registration, your email address, the vehicle's make and model, the two due dates, your choices and which reminders we've sent. We don't ask for your name, and we never sell or share your email address.
Unconfirmed sign-ups are deleted after seven days. When you unsubscribe, we delete your details straight away, rather than just marking them as inactive. In addition, every reminder email supports one-click unsubscribe in mail apps such as Gmail and Outlook. Our privacy policy explains the details, including your rights under UK data protection law.
MOT reminder: frequently asked questions
Is the MOT reminder really free?
Yes. There's no charge, no account and no catch. The reminders are paid for by the adverts on our site, not by your data.
Do you get MOT reminders from the DVLA?
No. DVLA sends vehicle tax reminders, not MOT reminders. For MOT reminders, sign up here or with GOV.UK's free service, which DVSA runs.
How far in advance will I get my MOT reminder?
Your first MOT reminder arrives 30 days before the expiry date. If you keep the last call switched on, a second email follows 7 days before.
Can I get an MOT reminder by text?
Our reminders are sent by email. For a text message, sign up on GOV.UK as well. Both services are free, so you can use them together.
Can I set up reminders for more than one vehicle?
Yes. Sign up once for each registration, using the same email address. You can add up to five vehicles per email address.
What happens to my reminders after I pass the MOT?
Nothing changes on your side. We look up the vehicle again before the next reminder, find the new expiry date and remind you next year.
I've sold the car. How do I stop the reminders?
Click "Stop these reminders" at the bottom of any email. We'll delete your details for that vehicle immediately.
Does it work for vans and motorcycles?
Yes. Any vehicle with an MOT date in DVSA's records works, including vans and motorcycles. A brand-new vehicle gets a reminder before its first MOT, three years after registration.
Check the MOT history before your reminder arrives
Your MOT reminder tells you when to book. A free MOT history check shows what might fail, from repeat advisories to tyre and brake wear, so you can fix it first.