Two thirds of motorists admit to driving without a valid MOT

Over a third of motorists admit to driving without a valid MOT, a new survey reveals.

Research by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) found that 67% of motorists have knowingly driven a car for up to a week without a valid MOT certificate, while 24% admit to driving up to a month.

Motorists who drive their cars without an MOT risk facing fines of up to £1000 by invalidating their insurance.

The study also found significant regional differences in responses. The East Midlands topped the table for remembering to renew an MOT certificate with 15% saying they have driven a car without one. In contrast, 41% of motorists in the South West admitted to forgetting to renew their MOT.

The findings also suggest that young motorists are the least likely to remember to carry out a car’s MOT with 39% of 18-24 year olds admitting to driving after an MOT had expired. The most diligent motorists are 45-54 year olds, with 28% saying the same.

“Each year a significant proportion of motorist forget their car’s MOT, risking safety, fines and penalty points,” said Mike Baunton, SMMT Interim Chief Executive.

In an aim to combat this trend, the SMMT have teamed up with Motor Codes to offer a free MOT reminder service. Each year the service will notify motorists before their car’s annual test is due. This service is available at www.passmymot.co.uk.

The SMMT research was carried out in partnership with all major car manufacturers in the UK in conjunction with the ‘Minute Or Two’ initiative. Motorists can take their car to one of 5,500 main dealerships for a simple 10-point pre-MOT visual inspection prior to the test to avoid being caught out by simple-to-fix issues.