The 4-Year First MOT That Got Scrapped: Why Yours Is Still Due at 3

For a few months it looked like one of the biggest MOT shake-ups in years was coming: moving a new car's first MOT from three years to four. After a full public consultation, the government has rejected it. Here's what was on the table, why it was dropped, and what it means for when your car is actually due.

What was proposed

The Department for Transport floated extending the first MOT interval from three years to four, and in some versions, moving to a test every two years after that. The pitch was cost: with newer cars more reliable than ever, ministers argued drivers could save the price of a test or two without much added risk.

It's an idea that resurfaces every few years — and every time, it splits opinion between "newer cars rarely fail" and "an extra year of unchecked tyres and brakes is an extra year of risk."

Why it was scrapped

Following the consultation, the proposal was rejected. The reasoning came down to safety: ministers concluded that the potential rise in unroadworthy cars on the road outweighed the modest savings. Crucially, the motor industry largely agreed — the RAC, AA and the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) all backed keeping the existing intervals. Real-world MOT data also shows a meaningful share of three- and four-year-old cars fail on safety items like tyres, brakes and lights, even when the car "feels fine."

So the status quo holds.

What "3-1-1" actually means for you

The UK MOT schedule for a normal car is simple:

• First MOT: 3 years after the car is first registered
• Then: every 1 year

So a car first registered in June 2023 needs its first MOT by June 2026, and annually after that. The test must be valid to tax the car and to drive it legally on the road.

The catch is that the first MOT is the one drivers most often forget — there's no annual habit yet, and three years is long enough to lose track. If you've recently bought a car that's coming up to three years old, it's worth confirming the exact date rather than guessing.

How to check when yours is due

You can check any car's MOT history and expiry date free — just enter the registration. It shows the official DVSA record: the current expiry, every past test, the mileage logged at each one, and any advisories that flagged "keep an eye on this." It's the quickest way to know whether you're days or months from being due.

And because the first MOT is so easy to miss, it's worth setting a free MOT reminder so the date comes to you by email rather than catching you out.

The takeaway

Despite the headlines, nothing has changed: your first MOT is still due at three years, then every year. The four-year plan is off the table. The smartest move isn't to hope the rules relax — it's to know your date and book ahead, so an expired MOT never costs you a fine, an invalid insurance policy, or an ANPR letter through the door.