Advice & Guides
Hire, buying and running it properly: trailers and towing, tools, plant, vehicles, storage, removals, clearance and the trades. Plain answers, UK law included.
What Does an MOT Advisory Mean?
An MOT advisory is a note on a passed MOT certificate about an item that could become more serious in the future, and the owner is told to monitor it and repair it if necessary. It does not mean the…
How to Check When Your MOT Is Due
You check when an MOT is due by entering the vehicle's registration number into the GOV.UK service for checking MOT status. The same GOV.UK tool also shows the vehicle's MOT history, including when…
Can You Drive a SORN Car to an MOT?
Yes, but only on one narrow journey. GOV.UK states that a vehicle with a SORN can be driven on a public road only to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment. A SORN, or Statutory Off…
What Happens If Your Car Fails Its MOT?
If a car fails its MOT, it cannot be treated as roadworthy until the faults are fixed and it passes a retest. Whether it can still be driven in the meantime depends on the type of fault found and…
Can You Choose Any Garage for Your MOT?
Yes, you can take a vehicle to any garage that holds DVSA authorisation for its class, but the test station's approval is what matters, not whether the workshop also does servicing or repairs. Any…
How Early Can You Get an MOT Without Losing Days?
The earliest you can take an MOT and keep your renewal date is one month minus a day before the current certificate expires. You can get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep…
Can You Drive a Car With an Expired MOT?
No, you cannot legally drive a car on a public road once its MOT has expired, unless you are travelling to a pre-booked MOT test. Driving without a valid certificate can lead to prosecution and can…
Can You Check MOT History Before Buying?
Yes. You can check a vehicle's MOT history before buying it using the free GOV.UK MOT history service, which needs only the registration number. The record lets you see past test results, advisories,…
Class 4 or Class 7 MOT: Which Does Your Van Need?
Whether your van needs a Class 4 or Class 7 MOT comes down to one number: its design gross weight (DGW). The figure that matters is not what the van actually weighs on the day of the test, but the…
How to Find a Good Local Garage
Finding a good local garage starts with the right tools: the DVSA publishes an official finder at gov.uk/find-mot-test-centre that lists every authorised MOT test station in England, Scotland and…
How Often Should You Service a Van?
Most vans should be serviced at least every 12 months or at the mileage interval set by the manufacturer, whichever comes first. For vans that work hard, that baseline is often not enough, and the…
Does Your Trailer Need an MOT?
Whether a trailer needs an annual test in the UK depends on its type and unladen weight. Under the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988, a goods trailer with an unladen weight above…
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