Owning a car in the UK comes with three non-negotiable annual obligations, each with its own deadline: vehicle tax, the MOT, and insurance. Miss any one and you’re breaking the law — and the penalties are real. The tricky part is that all three fall due at different times, so this guide covers what each is, what it costs, and how to keep them from slipping. (Figures are approximate and use ≈$1.35 = £1 and ≈₱61 = US$1; exchange rates move.)
1. Vehicle tax (VED)
Every car used or kept on a public road must be taxed through the DVLA — or declared off-road with a SORN. For most cars registered since April 2017, the standard rate is around £195–£200 a year (~$265–$270 / ~₱16,200–₱16,500), though the exact figure depends on your car’s registration date and CO₂ emissions, and cars with a list price over £40,000 pay an added “expensive car” supplement for several years. Tax is easy to renew online and can be paid annually, six-monthly, or monthly by Direct Debit. There’s no paper tax disc anymore — enforcement is automatic via number-plate cameras, so an untaxed car is quickly caught.
2. The MOT test
Once your car is three years old, it needs a valid MOT certificate every year — an annual roadworthiness and emissions check covering brakes, tires, lights, suspension, exhaust, and more. The test fee is capped by law at a maximum of £54.85 (~$74 / ~₱4,500) for a car, a cap frozen since 2010, and many garages charge less. Driving without a valid MOT (except to a pre-booked test) can bring a hefty fine. Book it a little early: if your car fails, you’ll want time to fix the faults and retest before the current certificate expires. For a full breakdown of what the test checks and why cars fail, see our guide to the UK MOT test.
3. Insurance
At minimum, UK law requires third-party insurance — cover for injury or damage you cause to others. Most drivers choose more (third-party fire and theft, or fully comprehensive, which also covers your own car). Crucially, the UK enforces continuous insurance: a car must be insured at all times unless it has a SORN, and driving uninsured is a serious offence with penalties including fines, points, and even seizure of the vehicle.
The catch: three different dates
Tax, MOT, and insurance renew on three separate deadlines, and it’s alarmingly easy to lose track of one — especially the MOT, which quietly creeps up a year at a time. A lapse on any of them can leave you fined or, worse, driving illegally without realizing it. The principle is the same as anywhere: staying legal is easy; remembering every deadline is the hard part. Our universal guide to never missing a registration or insurance renewal sets out a simple system.
Keep all three in one place
This is exactly the kind of scattered-deadline problem Kotselog is built for. Save your tax, MOT, and insurance dates once and the app reminds you before each one — with enough lead time to book the MOT or shop for a better insurance quote — right alongside your maintenance schedule. See the registration renewal feature and the insurance renewal feature, or open the app and add your car.
Costs and rules change — always confirm current VED rates, MOT requirements, and insurance obligations with GOV.UK and your insurer.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three legal requirements to drive a car in the UK?
Your car must be taxed (vehicle excise duty, paid to the DVLA), have a valid MOT certificate if it's over three years old, and be covered by at least third-party insurance. Missing any one of the three can mean a fine, and driving uninsured is a serious offence.
How much does an MOT cost in the UK?
The maximum an MOT test can legally cost for a car is £54.85, a cap that has been frozen since 2010. Many garages charge less than the maximum. The first MOT is required when the car is three years old, then annually after that.
How much is UK car tax?
For most cars registered since April 2017, the standard annual VED rate is around £195–£200. Cars with a list price over £40,000 pay an extra 'expensive car' supplement for several years. The exact amount depends on your car's registration date and emissions.
How Kotselog helps: Know when your vehicle registration is due — wherever you drive — and renew before the deadline. See the registration feature →
Start taking care of your car today
Open Kotselog in your browser and add your first vehicle in under a minute. Free to start — works offline, no account needed to try.
Open the App