If My MOT Has Expired, Will This Invalidate My Car Insurance?

By Peter Dodd

Partner

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 the government has extended any MOTs due after 30 March 2020 for six months.

There is a lot written on the internet as to whether you are insured or not, so what is the true position?

Under the law, s.143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 states that unless you have an insurance policy in force on a vehicle that a road is on, then an offence is committed.

So, if you have a current certificate of cover and your MOT expires, that is fine. However, there are two caveats to this.

Firstly, as advised by the government, your car must be safe to drive. If it is not, then there are the following issues:

  • You could commit a different offence if your vehicle is in a dangerous condition
  • If you cause an accident and you knew the vehicle was unsafe, then you may have difficulties convincing your insurance company to pay out if damage and/or injury is caused.

Secondly, some insurance companies make it a condition of your insurance under terms and conditions that in order to remain insured your car must have a current MOT. So, contact your insurance company to let them know just to make sure you confirm the position.

If your insurance company states that you are not insured, then you may have to go elsewhere. Optional, but maybe a bit political as the government is trying to encourage the banks to lend promised monies but the banks are not ‘coming to the table’.

The same may apply to insurance companies if they stand firm and state to the government that they will not be encouraged by them. To do this would mean a change in the law and the government has enough on its plate at the moment.