Third of motorists admit to driving with no MOT

A third of motorists have driven a car knowing the MOT had expired, risking fines of up to £1,000 and invalidating their insurance in the process.

That’s according to a survey conducted by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which found that of 1,000 UK motorists, 67% had driven without an MOT for up to a week, 24% for a month, 7% for six months and – shockingly – 2% for more than six months.

Now we’d give the 67% who admitted driving without an MOT for a week the benefit of the doubt – it’s easy to forget the test is due. But six months or more? That’s not forgetful, that’s just plain wrong. What’s more, by invalidating their car insurance policy, these drivers are risking six to eight penalty points on their licence.

Drivers in the south west of England are most likely to ‘forget’, with 40.5% of drivers admitting to driving without a valid MOT certificate. Drivers in the East Midlands can give themselves a pat on the pack, with only 14.6% of them prepared to admit the offence.

To help these forgetful drivers, the SMMT has teamed up with the Trading Standards-approved garage network, Motor Codes, to offer a free MOT service reminder. The service – which sends out a reminder before the MOT is due to expire – is available at www.passmymot.co.uk.

It’s all part of the SMMT’s ‘Minute Or Two’ initiative which encourages motorists to carry out ten visual checks of their car prior to the MOT test. This includes ensuring the lights are working, the tyres are legal and the wipers are operating correctly.

Many dealers will also offer a free pre-MOT check as well as sending out a reminder before the next test is due.

So now – more than ever – there’s no excuse for driving a car without an MOT.

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By motoringresearch.com