Millions of motorists are being urged to book their MOT now as a third of all cars face £1,000 fines for certificates expiring this year.
There are 12.3million cars due an MOT this year - out of 31.7million cars in total, according to figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and RAC.
In September alone 3.37million cars will see their MOT expire, followed by 3.29million in October and 3.12million in November.
The MOT is an annual test of safety, roadworthiness and exhaust emissions and is required by law.
Drivers can be fined up to £1,000 for using a vehicle without a valid MOT. Newer vehicles must have an MOT on the third anniversary of their registration, and then every 12 months.
An additional 783,000 cars will be due to have their first MOT by the end of this year, as they will have been registered for three years.
A few vehicles need to get an MOT at one year old, such as minibuses and ambulances. You can see a full list of these on this government website.
Some cars are exempt from getting MOTs, such as tractors, some classic cars and electric goods vehicles registered before March 1 2015.
Now the Co-op Insurance is urging motorists not to delay in booking their vehicle’s MOT.
Paul Evans, head of Co-op motor insurance, said: “We’re urging motor vehicle owners to check their vehicle’s MOT and if it’s due in the next three months, to get it booked in with a reputable mechanic as soon as they can."
Due to last year’s national lockdown, between March and July, cars, motorcycles and vans were given a six month extension to their MOT.
This led to a bottleneck of people all trying to get MOTs for their cars at the same time - or else forgetting entirely.
How to book an MOT
You can book an MOT through an approved MOT centre.
You can spot these as they show a blue sign with three white triangles.
They are also only allowed to charge you up to £54.85 for a car or £29.65 for a standard motorbike.
Last month The Mirror reported that drivers who neglect their car could be fined up to £2,500 if their vehicle is deemed not roadworthy.
More worryingly, you could also be at higher risk of causing an accident on the roads if you don’t complete regular safety checks.
It is an offence to drive a car in a dangerous condition, according to the Highway Code, with the penalty being a fine of up to £2,500 and in some cases, three points added to your licence.
If you’re caught driving a dodgy vehicle within three years of a previous conviction for a similar offence, then you could face being disqualified from driving altogether.
You should note that typically, a fine of £2,500 is usually a last resort and if the matter goes to court.
If you're pulled over, a policeman will typically try to offer you the chance to fix the problem first.
