MOT rule changes from 20th May 2018 The changes from 20th May 2018 will affect cars, vans, motorcycles and other light passenger vehicles. You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT. The changes are announced on the GOV/UK website. This NEWS item is also available as an article. More Risk of fines up to £2,500 Many drivers may not be fully aware of the fine print in the new MOT rules and that could end up costing them with fines up to £2,500 in some cases. One example of how a driver may incur a fine is if you put your car in for the MOT early. If you put your car in for an MOT before it is due, and the vehicle fails, you could face a hefty fine if you continue to drive the car, despite the fact that the original MOT certificate still has a period left to run to the expiry date. That's because if the car doesn't get through the tighter new MOT rules, then it will no longer be classed as road legal, regardless of an existing MOT certificate. Drivers of all types of cars will need to take care over this change. Posted: 180410 New defects categories - click image for larger copy Existing and new MOT certificates compared New style of MOT certificate (right) listing new types of defects with a pass - minor and advisories. Current MOT test certificate (left) will change to a new style. MOT rule changes from 20th May 2018 The MOT test will change on 20th May 2018 with new defect types, stricter rules for diesel car emissions, and some vehicles over 40 years old becoming MOT exempt. The way that the MOT test works in England, Scotland and Wales will change from Sunday 20th May 2018. The MOT test works differently in Northern Ireland. The changes will affect cars, vans, motorcycles and other light passenger vehicles. You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT. The changes are announced on the GOV/UK website. What are the main changes? 1. Defects will be categorised differently Defects found during the MOT will be categorised as either: dangerous, major or minor. The category the MOT tester gives each item will depend on the type of problem and how serious it is. MOT testers will still give advice about items you need to monitor. These are known as 'advisories'. What do the new categories mean? See the table alongside - a larger copy is available on the GOV.UK website. 2. Stricter rules for diesel car emissions There will be stricter limits for emissions from diesel cars with a diesel particulate filter (DPF). A DPF captures and stores exhaust soot to reduce emissions from diesel cars. Check your car's handbook if you don't know if your car has a DPF. Your vehicle will get a major fault if the MOT tester: can see smoke of any colour coming from the exhaust and/or finds evidence that the DPF has been tampered with. 3. Some new things will be included in the MOT Some new items will be tested during the MOT. They include checking: > if tyres are obviously underinflated. > if the brake fluid has been contaminated. > for fluid leaks posing an environmental risk. > brake pad warning lights and if brake pads or discs are missing. > reversing lights on vehicles first used from 1st September 2009. > headlight washers on vehicles first used from 1st September 2009 (if they have them). > daytime running lights on vehicles first used from 1st March 2018 (most of these vehicles will have their first MOT in 2021 when they're 3 years old). There will be other smaller changes to how some items are checked. Your MOT centre will be able to tell you about these. 4. The MOT certificate will change The design of the MOT certificate will change (see comparative current and new certificates at the head of this webpage) . It will list any defects under the new categories, so they’re clear and easy to understand. The service to check the MOT history of a vehicle will be updated to reflect the changes. 5. Some vehicles over 40 years old won’t need an MOT Our information on the new MOT exemption arrangements is already available. MOT exemption