Insurance and MOT needed to tax your vehicle

Before you can tax your vehicle you must have suitable insurance cover in place and if needed, the vehicle must be MOT tested. The wrong insurance cover, an overdue MOT, insurance certificates that are incorrect, misplaced or late arriving can all stop you taxing your vehicle on time.

Insurance cover needed to tax your vehicle

In order to tax your vehicle, you must have insurance cover that:

covers you against third party claims for death or injury and damage to property caused by using the vehicle
covers your use of the vehicle for taxing purposes
is valid on the day the tax disc comes into force

The insurance policy for your vehicle may allow you to drive any other vehicle with the owner’s permission. However, your policy can't be used as evidence of suitable insurance to tax any other vehicle. If your insurance cover for taxing purposes is not clear, you may need to provide additional evidence. Please contact your insurance company for advice.

Insurance certificates and cover notes

These are usually a printed or laser-printed document, or a plastic credit card style document. The following documents are not acceptable:

policy schedule, renewal notice, statement of Insurance or receipt for payment
photocopies or faxes

Motor dealers' insurance is not acceptable when licensing a vehicle in the new owner's name.

Lost, stolen or damaged insurance certificate

Get a duplicate insurance certificate or cover note from your insurance company.

Waiting for your insurance certificate to arrive in the post or update online

You can't tax your vehicle until your insurance certificate arrives or your insurance cover for your vehicle has updated on the Motor Insurance Database. You must keep your vehicle off the road in the meantime.

General information about motor insurance

MOT due dates

An MOT test is needed every year for:

cars, motorcycles, motor caravans if more than 4 years old
light goods vehicles under 3500 kgs if more than three years old
heavy goods vehicles over 3500 kgs if more than one year old
passenger carrying vehicles with more than eight seats (excluding private hire vehicles) if more than one year old
taxis and private hire vehicles from new
buses from new

Note: a PSV certificate can only be used by the person who applied for the certificate and who is using the vehicle as a taxi. Once the vehicle changes hands and is no longer used as a taxi the vehicle will need an MOT certificate.

More about when you need to MOT your vehicle

MOT test certificate

You must produce an MOT test certificate that is valid on the day the tax disc comes into force. A certificate that expires on the last day of the month eg: 30 April can't be used if the tax disc is to start on the first day of the following month, eg: 1 May. The certificate must be original; a photocopy is not acceptable.

Lost, Stolen or damaged MOT certificate

If you lose your certificate, you can apply for a duplicate. There is a fee for this service. You can obtain a duplicate by using the phone booking service on 0845 2472 471 with credit/debit card payment. Alternatively, you can apply by completing an application form. Send your application and fee to any test centre.

Find your local test centre

MOT or insurance has expired

If you intend to renew your vehicle tax you should do so before your current tax disc expires. However, this is not always possible if you’re waiting for insurance or are getting an MOT for your vehicle.

You’ll be committing an offence if you use or keep your vehicle on the public road without a current tax disc. If you can't get a tax disc, you must remove your vehicle off the road. While your vehicle is off the road, you have 14 days in which to obtain a tax disc or make a SORN.

Driving an untaxed vehicle to an MOT test

You can drive your vehicle to and from a pre-arranged test at an MOT test station provided you have adequate insurance cover in place for the use of that vehicle. This also applies to vehicles being driven to and from a prearranged test at a Vehicle Inspection Check (VIC) test station, an approved weight testing station and reduced pollution test.