How the MOT scheme works
MOT test checks that your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards. It is an offence to use a vehicle of MOT test age that doesn’t have a current test certificate on a public road.
Temporary Exemption Certificates (TECs) – private cars only
From 1 June 2025 some vehicles will receive a Temporary Exemption Certificate (TEC), extending the validity of their MOT.
Further information can be found on the Guide to booking your MOT vehicle test page.
When vehicles are tested
You can check the status of your vehicle on the GOV.UK website.
However, during normal operating times, as a general rule the points below suggest when your vehicle will be due a MOT test:
- cars and motorcycles which are four years old and over
- light goods vehicles from three years old
- trailers, large passenger carrying vehicles and heavy goods vehicles (over 3,500kgs gross weight) from one-year-old
- buses and taxis from when they are first used
How to apply and costs
You can book a test online or by phone by calling the vehicle test booking line:
- Driver & Vehicle Agency - vehicle test booking
- A guide to booking your MOT/ vehicle test
- MOT test fees
Goods vehicles and trailers
A goods vehicle with a gross weight exceeding 3,500kgs (heavy goods vehicles) must have its first annual test before the end of the month, one year after the date of first registration, and once a year afterwards.
A goods vehicle with a gross weight up to and including 3,500kgs (light goods vehicle) must have its first annual test before the end of the month, three years after the date of first registration, and once a year afterwards.
A trailer must have its first annual test before the end of the month, one year after the date of manufacture, or before the end of the month, one year after it was first used on public roads – and once a year afterwards.
MOT testing for a quadricycle (quad)
A quadricycle (quad) with an unladen weight not exceeding 450 kg and a maximum engine power not exceeding 15 kW must be certified as meeting on-road Type Approval requirements. The check for type approval will be carried out at the time of booking the test.
Quadricycles exceeding 450 kgs or whose maximum engine power exceeds 15 kW, or have been type approved for on-road use are tested as ‘motor cars’ under Northern Ireland legislation. These vehicles are unlikely to meet the legal requirements for a motor car, particularly for construction and lighting requirements.
To book a quadricycle MOT test, you must complete and submit a VT3a form:
Quad tests are carried out in Coleraine, Craigavon, Mallusk, Newtownards and Omagh test centres.
Vehicles of historical interest – annual testing exemption
Vehicles of Historical Interest are vehicles manufactured or first registered over 40 years ago and are no longer in production. These vehicles must not have been changed in any major way within the last 30 years. Major changes are noted on the V112 form (Declaration of Exemption from MOT).
You do not need to complete an MOT/ Goods Vehicle test if your car, motorcycle or light goods vehicle is 3500kgs or lower and was first manufactured or registered more than 40 years ago.
Even if the vehicle is exempt from annual testing, it must be maintained in a roadworthy condition. You can still choose to test the vehicle on a voluntary basis if you so wish. For example, a voluntary test may be needed to transfer a registration number off a vehicle, as this scheme sometimes needs a test certificate.
If a vehicle owner cannot decide if the vehicle has had a major change, they should not claim an exemption from the MOT test.
Different rules apply to heavy goods vehicles and buses.
Buses and public service vehicles
Buses and taxis used commercially are not exempt from annual testing.
Buses not used commercially over 40 years old are exempt from annual testing if they meet the definition of a ‘vehicle of historical interest’.
Heavy Goods Vehicles (gross vehicle weight exceeding 3,500kgs)
The existing exemption for HGVs manufactured or registered before 1960 will stay providing these vehicles have not been changed a lot since their first registration. These vehicles when used for commercial purposes will continue to undergo annual roadworthiness testing.
Taxing an exempt vehicle
Vehicles which are exempt from Annual MOT testing will continue to need Annual Road Tax.
If your vehicle has a valid vehicle test certificate you can tax your vehicle as normal.
If your vehicle’s MOT has expired and the vehicle is now exempt from testing, you must fill in the right form for your vehicle type and present it at a Post Office when applying for road tax to confirm MOT exemption.
For light vehicles such as cars and motorcycles fill in form V112 and for goods vehicles fill in form V112G.
When to apply for an MOT
You should not delay making an MOT appointment when you receive a reminder from the DVA to book a vehicle test, even if the next available appointment falls after the MOT expiry date.
DVA is experiencing a high demand for its testing services. As a result, there are longer than normal appointment waiting times and you may not be able to get a vehicle test appointment before your current MOT expires. If this is the case, you must book the earliest available test appointment for your vehicle.
It may not always be possible to get a test appointment at your preferred test centre and you may have to travel to another centre to secure the earliest appointment available.
For more details and the latest on DVA service availability visit: A guide to booking your MOT/ vehicle test
If you have a vehicle in one of the categories below, you can also book a test but you won’t receive a reminder as these vehicles are not in the DVA system:
- vehicles not registered or not tested in Northern Ireland and due a test
- vehicles with MOT expired by more than 12 months
- vehicles currently declared SORN (only if the previous MOT has expired by more than 12 months or if the vehicle is now due its first test)
- buses due a first time test (not for ‘hire and reward’ use)
- first time taxis
Vehicle testing outside Northern Ireland
An official MOT vehicle test certificate issued within the United Kingdom is valid in Northern Ireland.
MOT test procedure
A strict routine is consistently applied in all test centres to test the safety and roadworthiness of your vehicle.