MOT test, or just "MOT" (pronounced by spelling out the letters) is a mandatory annual test of safety and roadworthiness aspects of vehicles over a certain age in the United Kingdom. The name derives from the Ministry of Transport, a former UK Government department, and is still officially in use, although the Ministry of Transport no longer exists under that name, and the MOT test certificates are currently issued under the auspices of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), an Agency within the Department for Transport (DfT).

When originally instituted in 1960 by the then Ministry of Transport, the test applied to vehicles over 10 years old. Currently it applies to most road vehicles over 3 years old. Ambulances, taxis, and passenger vehicles with nine or more seats need testing after one year, while limited use and agricultural vehicles are exempt from test altogether.

The list of items tested has been continually expanded over the years, recently a sophisticated exhaust gases emission test has been introduced for vehicles with internal combustion engines, the required standard varies depending on the age and type of the engine.

Many local car repair garages throughout the UK are authorised to act as test centres.

It is illegal to drive a non-exempt vehicle over three years old public roads, except when driving to a pre-booked MOT Test. Possession of an up-to-date MOT test certificate is a pre-requisite for obtaining a tax disc, and advertisements for used cars frequently say how many months are left to run on the current MOT certificate. It is important to realise that the MOT test does not cover areas of a cars mechanical condition that are not related to safety or emissions, a car with a recent MOT certificate could still have major mechanical defects.

External Links

• VOSA official web site]