Do You Need a Valid MOT to Be Able to Tax a Car?

For almost every car on the road, the answer is a firm yes—you need a valid MOT before you can tax it. When you apply online, over the phone, or at the Post Office, the DVLA cross-checks your registration against the DVSA database in real time. If there is no active MOT (or exemption) recorded, the tax transaction simply will not complete.

How the DVLA Cross-Checks Your MOT

DVSA test centres upload results within minutes of finishing an MOT. That digital record feeds directly into the DVLA services used for taxing, issuing fines, and ANPR enforcement. To stay ahead:

  • Use our combined MOT and tax report to see what the DVLA sees before you renew.
  • Keep proof of your latest MOT in case the Post Office needs to view it manually.
  • If you test early, the new MOT overlaps the old one, so taxation still lines up with the longest validity.

Limited Exemptions

There are only a few scenarios where you can tax without a current MOT:

  • Brand-new vehicles under three years old (learn more in our first MOT guide).
  • Vehicles officially exempt, such as historic classics or specialist machinery.
  • Cars kept off-road under a SORN declaration. Once the car returns to the highway, you need both MOT and tax again.

Steps to Tax Your Car After the MOT

Follow this workflow to keep everything aligned:

  1. Book your MOT at least two weeks before the due date via GOV.UK.
  2. Once it passes, refresh your VehicleScore MOT report to confirm the pass is live.
  3. Head to the tax renewal page or Post Office with your V5C.
  4. Keep the MOT pass and insurance certificate together in case enforcement teams ask for evidence.

What If Your MOT Is Booked but Not Completed?

The DVLA only accepts completed digital MOT records. Even if you have a booking reference, the system will reject your tax payment until the pass is uploaded. You can drive to a pre-booked MOT without tax for that journey only, but make sure the appointment is logged and the car is roadworthy. Once the pass is on file, retry the tax application and keep proof of both transactions in your glovebox.

Stay Ahead With One Snapshot

Our combined MOT & tax check pulls DVLA data in seconds, so you always know whether the paperwork lines up before you hit the renewal button.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The DVLA will not process vehicle tax unless the system already holds a valid MOT (or exemption) for the registration. Brand-new cars under three years old are the main exception because they are not due an MOT yet.

Historic vehicles can be exempt from routine MOT testing, but you must declare the exemption when taxing the vehicle. The car still has to be roadworthy and insured.

You can only tax the vehicle once the new MOT result hits the DVSA/DVLA database. Booking confirmation alone is not enough, so plan your MOT early.

Do You Need a Valid MOT to Be Able to Tax a Car? | VehicleScore