Book your MOT/ vehicle test online

Temporary Exemption Certificates (TECs) – private cars only

From 1 June 2024, private cars that were first registered between 1 June 2019 and 31 May 2020 or between 1 June 2017 and 31 May 2018, and have a valid Northern Ireland MOT will be given a Temporary Exemption Certificate (TEC).

This means they will not need a vehicle test (MOT) for 12 months from the date their current certificate expires.

You can check your vehicle’s date of first registration in the vehicle logbook (V5C).

Having a TEC will allow motorists to continue to drive the vehicle legally, in all jurisdictions, if it is kept in a roadworthy condition, is taxed and insured.

If the vehicle was first registered within the dates above and currently has a valid MOT certificate in Northern Ireland (not expired), you do not need to do anything.

TECs will be given automatically. You will not receive a paper or digital copy.

• Check the new MOT expiry date

You will also be able to check your MOT and vehicle tax expiry date at the Vehicle Enquiry Service, but this record may take longer to update. The new MOT expiry date will be updated before vehicle tax is due.

 

A vehicle will not get a TEC if:

• the vehicle was not registered within the dates above
• the vehicle was registered within the dates above, but the MOT has expired
• the vehicle has a valid MOT, but was last tested outside Northern Ireland

These vehicles will still require an MOT and you should book an appointment.

If you are not sure if your vehicle will get a TEC or not, you can fill in this enquiry form.

Types of vehicle tests you can book with this service 

• MOT/ vehicle test appointment  
• MOT/ vehicle re-test appointment (within 21 days of the full test)
• heavy goods vehicle (HGV) test
• light goods vehicles test
• trailer test
• taximeter test
• vehicle acquittal - book through the cars, motorcycles, light goods vehicles, HGV and light passenger carrying vehicles section

To book a vehicle test online you’ll need:

• the vehicle registration number or for a trailer a C or NI number
• the last four digits of the chassis number
• a debit or credit card -  Maestro debit card is not accepted
• a valid email address

Change, cancel or view an MOT booking

You can change, cancel or view your MOT/ vehicle test appointment online

You can choose a test centre and the date and time of your test.

Check the MOT history of a vehicle

You may check the past results of a vehicle’s MOT tests online.

You can only get results for tests done since December 2017 for vehicles tested in Northern Ireland.

• Check the MOT history of a vehicle

If you miss the test

If you don't cancel your appointment and miss your test, you will lose your fee. You will then have to pay the full fee for another appointment.

Taxis and buses

You can only book a taxi and bus test appointment after you have applied for a licence and the vehicle has been approved for testing by DVA’s passenger transport licensing division.

If you have a new class A or B taxi, they need a taximeter test, before you can book a vehicle test. A taximeter is also needed where a taximeter has been changed, repaired or if the seal is damaged.

For more information on how to apply see the links below.

• Apply for a taxi vehicle licence
• Apply for a bus vehicle licence
• Taxi vehicle test

• If you are applying to renew your licence, you can check your licence expiry date by logging online to the taxi and bus licensing system or you will get the expiry date on your vehicle licence reminder which will issue six/ eight weeks before your licence expiry date.

If you have a vehicle in one of the categories below, you can also book a test but you won’t receive an automatic 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

You can find out how any personal information you send to the Department for Infrastructure (Driver & Vehicle Agency) when using this service will be handled by viewing their privacy notice.

For queries about this service, you can contact testing enquiries:

• Driver & Vehicle Agency - testing enquiries