What is an MOT?
MOT testing is required by law on all vehicles in the UK that are 3 years old or more. The annual inspection follows strict criteria set out by the DVSA that determines if your bike is fit for purpose and in a roadworthy condition. The MOT test covers a broad range of vehicle safety checks including lights, tyres, brakes and emissions and can only be carried out by an MOT garage with DVSA-approved examiners.
During the MOT test the nominated tester, a person accredited by the DVSA to assess your vehicle, will conduct a comprehensive inspection to ensure the vehicle is in a roadworthy condition. However, it is not the same as having your vehicle serviced and the MOT test does not check the general mechanical condition of the vehicle. Also, the assessment is based on the condition of the vehicle on the day.
If the vehicle passes, the nominated tester will separately list and inform you of any ‘advisory’ or ‘minor’ items that will require attention in the near future so you can keep an eye on them.
If the vehicle fails, you may be entitled to a free re-test.
How often do you need an MOT?
All vehicles 3 years old or more are required to have a valid MOT test certificate which should be renewed annually. It is your responsibility to ensure your vehicle is examined every 12 months. You can find the expiry date of your MOT on your existing MOT test certificate and you can have your vehicle MOT tested up to 28 days in advance. The expiry date on your new MOT is 12 months from the expiry of your old one rather than 12 months from the day you took the test, so as long as your MOT test is due in the next 28 days, you won’t lose any days for having your vehicle tested early.
Although if you planning to purchase a motorbycle we highly recommend to make sure that the bike has an up to date MOT certificate we would recommend to talk to the VIP Motorcycles team so that you know specifically what you need to look for and what you need to do or arrange a pre-sales inspection.