Tools › MOT due date
MOT due date calculator
Enter when your bike was first registered, or the expiry date on its MOT certificate. You'll see when the MOT is due, the earliest you can test without losing any days, and how long you've got.
Type a reg to see its MOT expiry, every test, the mileage record and advisories. Then let the Tickover app remind you before MOT, tax and insurance run out.
How the dates work
| Situation | When the MOT is due |
|---|---|
| New bike, registered in Great Britain | By the third anniversary of registration |
| New bike, registered in Northern Ireland | Once it's four years old |
| Bike with an MOT | By the expiry date on its certificate |
| Testing early (Great Britain) | Up to a month (minus a day) before expiry keeps the same renewal date |
- Test in the window and lose nothing. If your MOT runs out on 15 May, a pass from 16 April onwards runs to 15 May next year.
- Test earlier and the date moves. The new MOT runs out a year (minus a day) after the pass.
- Northern Ireland MOTs are run by the DVA, with their own booking rules. If your last MOT was in Northern Ireland and the next is in Great Britain, the renewal date is based on the GB test date.
- Old bikes: bikes made more than 40 years ago may not need an MOT, as long as they haven't been substantially changed.
Quick answers
When is a motorbike's first MOT due?
In Great Britain, by the third anniversary of its registration. In Northern Ireland, motorcycles have their first MOT once they are four years old.
How early can I get an MOT without losing days?
Up to a month (minus a day) before your current MOT runs out, and you keep the same renewal date. If it runs out on 15 May, the earliest is 16 April.
What happens if I get my MOT earlier than that?
You can, but your renewal date changes: the new MOT runs out a year (minus a day) after the date it passes.
Can I ride my bike if the MOT has run out?
Only to a pre-booked MOT test. The bike still needs to be insured for that ride.
Where do I find my MOT expiry date?
It's on your MOT certificate. You can also check it free by typing the reg into the GOV.UK MOT history service or the Tickover MOT checker.