Does my car tax run out when my MOT expires?
No — your car tax and MOT have completely separate expiry dates. Your tax won't automatically cancel when your MOT lapses. But the two are still closely linked in ways that matter.
MOT and vehicle tax (road tax) are independent. If your MOT expires on 1st June and your tax runs until 31st October, your tax is still technically valid. However — and this is important — driving without a valid MOT is illegal regardless of whether your tax is current.
How MOT and tax interact
Their expiry dates. One lapsing doesn't automatically cancel the other. You could have tax that runs for months after your MOT expires.
Renewal. You cannot renew your car tax if there's no valid MOT on record. The DVLA checks this automatically.
Is it legal to drive with tax but no MOT?
No. Even if your car tax is fully up to date, driving on a public road without a valid MOT is a criminal offence. You could face a fine of up to £1,000. Your insurance may also be invalidated, which compounds the risk significantly.
Don't assume a valid tax disc means you're legal: Police and ANPR cameras check MOT status separately. Having valid tax will not protect you from an MOT enforcement stop.
What about my tax if I SORN the car?
If you declare a SORN because your car is off the road, your existing tax is cancelled and any full remaining months are refunded automatically to the payment card used. You won't owe any further tax while the car is SORNed, and the vehicle must stay off public roads.
Can I get a refund on unused tax?
Yes — if you cancel your tax (via SORN or when selling the car), DVLA automatically refunds any complete remaining months. Partial months are not refunded, so timing matters if you're trying to maximise your refund.
Good to know: You can check both your MOT expiry and tax expiry date for free using MOTReminder — just enter your reg plate below. No account needed.
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