In short
- Citizens Advice says to ask the seller about any gap. A car that was unused and registered as off the road (SORN) might not have needed an MOT[9].
- A car’s first MOT is due by its third birthday in England, Scotland and Wales[1]. In Northern Ireland it is the fourth[3]. So a younger car has no tests to show.
- Other ordinary reasons include the 2020 extension, very old cars, imports and tests done in Northern Ireland before 2017.
- The record shows dates, not reasons. If no reason fits, ask the seller and ask for proof.
- Tests done in Northern Ireland are on record from 2017. They show the result and the mileage, but not the faults.
On this page
An MOT lasts a year[1]. So tests are normally about 12 months apart.
They don’t have to be exactly 12 months apart. You can get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) early and keep the same renewal date[1]. So two tests a few weeks short of a year apart can be normal.
On our report, we point out two tests more than 15 months apart. That is our own rule of thumb, not DVSA’s. It leaves a little room for a late test. A gap that falls in the 2020 extension is still pointed out, with a note saying the extension explains it.
For cars, the GOV.UK record only covers tests done since 2005[2]. To read the rest of the record, see how to check a car’s MOT history.
Many reasons are ordinary, and some can be checked in minutes. Match what you see in the record to the closest reason below.
| Reason | What you would see |
|---|---|
| The car is under 3 years old | No tests, or only the first one How to check: Check the first registration date on the V5C. The first MOT is due by the third anniversary[1], or the fourth in Northern Ireland[3]. |
| It was kept off the road (SORN) | A year or more with no test, then a test after it How to check: Ask when it was off the road, and why. A car with a SORN can be driven on a public road only to or from a pre-booked test[4]. |
| The 2020 extension | Two tests up to 18 months apart (12 months plus the 6-month extension), around 2020 to 2021 How to check: Check whether the MOT was due between 30 March and 31 July 2020[5]. See the next section. |
| The car is over 40 years old | No tests for some years How to check: A car built or first registered more than 40 years ago, and not substantially changed, does not need an MOT[6]. Check its build date. |
| It was brought in from abroad | No UK test until its first UK test How to check: Ask for the import paperwork and the UK registration date. An imported car may be driven to a pre-booked MOT before its registration is complete[7]. |
| It was tested in Northern Ireland before 2017 | Tests from 2017 on, with the result and mileage but no faults listed. Nothing before 2017[2]. How to check: Ask the seller for the paper certificates for the earlier tests. |
| Its early tests are older than the record | The first test shown is in 2005 or later, on an older car How to check: Check the first registration date on the V5C. The record starts in 2005[2]. |
| A test is missing from the record, or was recorded wrongly | A gap where the seller says the car was tested How to check: Ask for proof of the test, such as an invoice. DVSA can be asked to correct a missing or wrong record[8]. |
Common reasons for a gap, and how to check each one. The record shows dates, not reasons.
In England, Scotland and Wales in 2020, cars with an MOT due between 30 March and 31 July got a six-month extension. Testing became compulsory again from 1 August 2020[5].
For example, a car with an MOT due on 30 July 2020 did not need one until 30 January 2021[5]. Add the six months to a normal year of 12 months, and two tests around then can be 18 months apart.
So check any gap in that period against those dates first. The record can’t show whether an owner used the extension.
One possible reason is that the car was off the road. A SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) tells DVLA a car is kept off public roads, for example in a garage[4]. Older cars are off the road more often.
- 5 years old (first used 2020)
- 1.1%
- 7 years old (first used 2018)
- 1.5%
- 10 years old (first used 2015)
- 2.4%
- 13 years old (first used 2012)
- 5.6%
- 15 years old (first used 2010)
- 9.6%
- 17 years old (first used 2008)
- 17.6%
- 19 years old (first used 2006)
- 29.4%
- 21 years old (first used 2004)
- 45.2%
- 25 years old (first used 2000)
- 73%
Cars on the DVLA register at the end of 2025, either taxed or declared off the road. The bars show the share declared off the road, by the year the car was first used. Models with 100 or more cars in that year. These are vehicle licensing figures, not MOT results. MOT Wise analysis of DfT vehicle licensing statistics, end of 2025[10].
Of cars first used in 2010, about 1 in 10 (9.6%) were declared off the road (SORN) at the end of 2025. For cars first used in 2004, it was about half (45.2%). Source: MOT Wise analysis of DfT vehicle licensing statistics, end of 2025.
This isn’t a count of gaps in MOT history. It only shows that older cars are off the road more often, which is one reason their records can have long breaks. For how many cars stay on the road at each age, see how long cars last.
A gap with no reason that fits is worth a closer look. These things make it matter more.
- No explanation. The seller can’t say why, or the story changes.
- Mileage that barely moves. A long gap with almost no extra miles, or a reading that drops, needs clearing up. See how to spot mileage clocking.
- A fail just before the gap. Ask whether the faults were put right, and what was done.
- A car used on the road without an MOT. This is against the law, and the record can’t show whether it happened.
Questions to ask the seller, tick as you go
0 of 9 done
If you’re being pushed to decide quickly, it’s fine to take your time. A straight answer comes with proof, such as an invoice or a SORN date. More questions are in questions to ask a seller.
The record shows the dates of tests. It can’t show why a test is missing. Only the seller and the paperwork can say.
If a test is missing from the record, or shouldn’t be there, DVSA can be contacted through GOV.UK to correct it[8]. For other things an MOT record leaves out, such as finance and write-offs, see what an MOT history can’t tell you.
Common questions
Is a gap in MOT history a bad sign?
The record can’t say. There are many possible reasons, such as a SORN or a car under 3 years old. A gap with no explanation is worth asking the seller about.
Can a car have no MOT history?
Yes. A car under 3 years old has not needed an MOT yet, or under 4 in Northern Ireland. A car brought in from abroad may have no UK test until its first UK test. For cars, the record also only covers tests since 2005.
Does SORN mean a car has no MOT?
A car kept off the road under a SORN might not have needed an MOT during that time. That is one possible reason for a gap. It can be driven on a public road only to or from a pre-booked test. Ask the seller for the SORN dates.
Can I drive to an MOT if it has expired?
Yes, but only to a pre-arranged MOT test, or to or from a place of repair. Driving without a valid MOT in other cases can bring a fine of up to £1,000 (as of 10 October 2026).
How do I find out why there is a gap?
Ask the seller first, and ask for proof. Then check the dates against the car’s first registration, any SORN and the 2020 extension. If a test is missing from the record, DVSA can be asked to correct it.
Sources
- Getting an MOT: when to get an MOT. GOV.UK.
- Check the MOT history of a vehicle: exemptions and conditions. GOV.UK (DVSA).
- How the MOT scheme works. NI Direct.
- When you need to make a SORN: overview. GOV.UK (DVLA).
- Government cuts short MOT exemption: is your car’s MOT due?. Which?, 2020.
- Historic (classic) vehicles: MOT and vehicle tax. GOV.UK.
- Importing vehicles into the UK. GOV.UK.
- Getting an MOT: fix mistakes on your MOT record. GOV.UK.
- Buying a used car (England). Citizens Advice.
- Vehicle licensing statistics data files. Department for Transport and DVLA, 2026. The off-the-road figures come from table VEH0124, vehicles at the end of 2025 by licence status and year of first use.
