A guide to booking your MOT/ vehicle test
You can book, view, change or cancel your MOT/ vehicle test appointment online.
Temporary Exemption Certificates (TECs) – Private cars only
From 1 June 2024, private cars that were first registered between 1 June 2019 and 31 May 2020 or between 1 June 2017 and 31 May 2018, and have a valid Northern Ireland MOT will be given a Temporary Exemption Certificate (TEC).
This means they will not need a vehicle test (MOT) for 12 months from the date their current certificate expires.
You can check your vehicle’s date of first registration in the vehicle logbook (V5C).
Having a TEC will allow motorists to continue to drive the vehicle legally, in all jurisdictions, if it is kept in a roadworthy condition, is taxed and insured.
If the vehicle was first registered within the dates above and currently has a valid MOT certificate in Northern Ireland (not expired), you do not need to do anything.
TECs will be given automatically. You will not receive a paper or digital copy.
You will also be able to check your MOT and vehicle tax expiry date at the Vehicle Enquiry Service, but this record may take longer to update. The new MOT expiry date will be updated before vehicle tax is due.
A vehicle will not get a TEC if:
- the vehicle was not registered within the dates above
- the vehicle was registered within the dates above, but the MOT has expired
- the vehicle has a valid MOT, but was last tested outside Northern Ireland
These vehicles will still require an MOT and you should book an appointment.
If you are not sure if your vehicle will get a TEC or not, you can fill in this enquiry form.
Booking your MOT/ vehicle test online
You can book your MOT/ vehicle test online. Click on the green button at the link below to open the booking service and start your booking.
Through the online service, you can also book a test for heavy goods vehicles (HGV) and trailers.
If there is an issue with your online booking, you can email the booking enquiries team, see the link below for the email address.
Driver and Vehicle Agency - testing enquiries
Booking your MOT/ vehicle test by telephone
You can book a vehicle test by calling the booking line (except for multiple vehicle bookings).
Book as early as possible
As the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) is experiencing high demand for its testing services, you may not be able to get an appointment before your existing MOT expires.
If this is the case, you must book the earliest available test appointment for your vehicle. The DVA have consulted with the PSNI and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) to make them aware of the current situation.
The PSNI has agreed not to penalise drivers whose MOT has expired so long as:
- your vehicle is in a roadworthy and safe condition and doesn’t have a statutory off-road notification (SORN) declaration
- your vehicle is properly insured
- you can prove (by showing an MOT appointment notification/ reminder, either in electronic or paper form) that a test appointment has been booked for your vehicle
All other vehicle roadworthiness and insurance offences will be dealt with in the usual way.
The ABI has confirmed that the lack of a valid MOT certificate would not necessarily invalidate a motor insurance policy. However they say that if you can’t get a test appointment until after the current certificate expires, you should check your policy documents or speak to your insurer.
These arrangements only apply in Northern Ireland. They do not cover you to use your vehicle without a valid MOT certificate in other jurisdictions.
Taxing your vehicle
If you need to tax your vehicle, you can do so as long as you have a valid MOT certificate on the date the vehicle tax is due to be renewed.
If you need an MOT to tax your vehicle and can't secure a date before your MOT expires. Or you have been told by your insurer that you won’t be covered in that in-between period after your MOT expires, you should:
- book the earliest available appointment
- keep checking the booking system for an earlier appointment
If you get to within 10 days of the expiry date of your tax and you have been unable to secure an MOT appointment or your tax has expired, fill in the short notice appointment request form.
You will need to give the following information:
- vehicle registration number
- MOT booking reference number
- expiry date of tax
- preferred test centre
The DVA will contact you to arrange an appointment for your vehicle. You should make sure that you answer any calls from withheld numbers to arrange the appointment.
If you are deaf, have hearing loss, tinnitus, or speech difficulties, you can use the Relay UK service to talk with anyone over the phone.
You can also email the Customer Services team detailing your circumstances and provide the requested information above.
You should also make sure that your vehicle is ready for MOT before contacting the DVA.
If you drive an untaxed vehicle it can result in enforcement action by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea.
Choice of MOT dates and times
Waiting times vary between centres and you may find you can get a test quicker at another MOT test centre. You can find a full list of test centres at the link below.
Checking the MOT history of a vehicle
You may check the past results of a vehicle’s MOT tests online.
You can only get results for tests done since December 2017 for vehicles tested in Northern Ireland.
If the online check shows that your MOT has expired you should book the earliest available test appointment for your vehicle.
Adding vehicles to book online
If you want to add vehicles not previously tested in NI to book online, you must complete the webform below.
Vehicle roadworthiness
It is your responsibility to make sure your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition to be used on a public road. The PSNI and insurers expect you to meet their legal obligation to keep your vehicle in a roadworthy condition if you are using it on the road.
You should look out for brake wear, make sure that all lights are working and regularly check tyre pressure and tread depth.
You can find more information on how to maintain your vehicle at the link below.
If you miss the MOT test
If you don't cancel your appointment and miss your test, you will lose your fee. You will then have to pay the full fee for another appointment.
You can cancel your test appointment online at the link below.