Insurance to drive a car to its MOT or service
Driving to a pre-booked MOT is one of the few journeys allowed on an untaxed car — but it is never allowed on an uninsured one. An hour of cover settles the question for the price of a coffee round.
Tax, MOT and insurance are three separate things
A car with no MOT may legally be driven to a pre-booked test. A car with no tax may be driven to that same test. Neither exemption extends to insurance — every journey on a public road needs cover in place, without exception.
Because the exemption only applies to the appointment itself, buy cover for the round trip rather than the outbound leg alone. Most customers take three or four hours to allow for a wait at the garage.
Moving a car you are not the registered keeper of
Taking a parent's car for its service, or moving a vehicle for a friend who is away, works the same way: you buy the policy in your own name against that registration, and their annual cover is untouched.
Registered on the MID before you set off
Where an insurer accepts your request, it registers the policy on the Motor Insurance Database, usually within minutes. Untaxed or un-MOT'd cars attract more ANPR attention than most, so wait for the insurer's confirmation before you drive.
Frequently asked questions
Other reasons people buy short-term cover
Send your details to insurers in three minutes
Enter your registration and the dates you need. We prepare your details and pass them to insurers, who decide whether to offer cover.
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