Millions of motorists across the UK have been found to be driving illegally because they have allowed their MOT certificates to lapse, according to fresh figures.
Research found roughly 16 per cent of vehicles are only brought in for examination once their certification has already expired.
This meant approximately one in every six cars requiring the annual roadworthiness check is being tested too late, leaving drivers exposed to potential prosecution.
Kwik Fit, which conducts over one million MOT tests annually, analysed online booking data from the second half of 2025.
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The findings indicated that more than 4.3 million vehicles requiring MOT certification were booked and examined after their deadline had passed during the previous year.
While half of these late tests occurred within 10 days of the certificate expiring, a significant proportion were considerably more overdue.
The typical gap between an MOT running out and the vehicle being tested stood at 33.7 days on average.
Beyond those who scheduled their appointments late, a further 1.7 million cars were examined after their MOT had lapsed despite owners having made bookings before the expiry date.
DVSA reports found that 27 per cent of cars failed their MOT inspection last year
| GETTYAccording to the latest DVSA statistics, more than a quarter of all vehicles, some 27 per cent, failed their MOT examination.
Applying this failure rate to the millions of cars being driven without valid certification suggested that over 1.5 million of these vehicles would not meet roadworthiness standards.
These motorists are not only breaking the law but also potentially putting themselves and other road users in danger by operating vehicles with undetected faults, experts warned.
The legal consequences can also be severe, with drivers risking penalties of up to £1,000 for operating a vehicle without a current MOT certificate.
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The MOT tester revealed how millions of drivers have failed their annual inspection each year
|KWIK FIT
Government guidance states that motorists cannot drive or park their vehicle on public roads once the MOT has expired, with prosecution a possibility for those caught doing so.
Dan Joyce, Kwik Fit's operations director who leads the company's MOT programme, acknowledged many motorists view the annual test as an inconvenience but stressed its vital role in keeping vehicles safe.
He said: "The MOT test may sometimes feel like a chore for drivers, but it is essential in ensuring a car is safe and roadworthy. We all lead very busy lives, and it is all too easy for the MOT to slip down the to-do list."
He noted how booking early allows owners to arrange any necessary repairs without last-minute pressure should defects be identified during testing.
Drivers could be slapped with a £1,000 fine for driving a failed MOT vehicle
| PADrivers can also have their vehicle examined up to a month before expiry while retaining the same renewal date for subsequent years.
Matt Crole-Rees, a motoring expert at Confused.com, emphasised how maintaining a valid MOT goes beyond mere legal compliance.
"Keeping on top of your MOT is about more than just following the law. The test exists to make sure a vehicle is safe to drive," he said.
He warned that problems with brakes, tyres, steering, or suspension are precisely the types of defects that the annual examination is designed to identify before they lead to breakdowns or collisions.