3 million cars driving without an MoT risk £3bn in fines
Fri, 28 Nov 2025
Nearly three million cars have been driven on UK roads without a valid MoT in the last three years – leaving drivers at risk of fines totalling nearly £3bn.
Over 790,000 vehicles were overdue a new MoT in 2024 alone.
The figures were revealed by a Freedom of Information request by Confused.com. Overdue MoTs were most likely in the South East, with over 433,000 between 2022 and 2024, followed by the East of England, the North West, the West Midlands and London.
The data also revealed the average MoT pass rate, with London highest at 78.2% and the South West lowest on 67.3%. The national average pass rate averaged 72%.
When quizzed why they’d missed an MoT, almost half of drivers said they’d simply forgotten the date. 14% thought they had more time – but 7% said they couldn’t get an appointment in time and were ‘concerned a lack of test availability might be contributing to risky road conditions’.
With the average driver spending £111 on an MoT test, including repairs, almost 1 in 10 had to delay their MoT because of the cost.
However, with drivers caught without a valid MoT facing a fine of up to £1000, this carries its own risks. What’s more, the maximum penalty can even increase to £2500 if the vehicle is then considered dangerous after taking the test.
"Our research shows that millions of cars are on the road without a valid MoT, often because drivers simply forgot," says Confused.com motoring expert Rhydian Jones.
"But an expired MoT doesn’t just mean a fine of up to £1000… if caught without a valid MoT, there’s also a chance your insurance could be invalidated.
"Some garages and dealerships offer payment schemes that include your MoT and service costs spread across the year. These plans often come with MoT reminders, helping you stay organised and making them more affordable."
HonestJohn.co.uk also has an MoT checker, including a vehicle’s MoT history, that can issue reminders.
As for the most common reason for an MoT failure over the past three years, brake faults top the list, causing more than 27 million failed tests. Suspension problems were close behind, followed by tyres.
Drivers caught out on the road with all four tyres under the legal limit are at risk of a £10k on-the-spot fine.
