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If your car documents aren't up-to-date, you could be fined and given points on your driving licence*.*

Find out what documents you need to drive and what your legal requirements are as a driver.

Car tax, insurance and MOTs: what does the law require?

It’s against the law to drive a car without a valid car insurance policy. You also need to ensure you have a valid driving licence and that your car has valid car tax.

If your car is more than 3 years old, you also need a valid MOT certificate.

It's also an offence to keep an uninsured car on a public street.

Only cars that are registered with the DVLA with a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) can be kept uninsured and untaxed. But you have to keep the car off the road - for example, locked up in a garage.

MOT rules

Can you drive without an MOT?

No, it’s illegal to drive or park your car on the road if the MOT has run out. The only exceptions include driving to an MOT test centre or to a garage for repairs.

If you're caught driving without a valid MOT certificate, you could get a fine of up to £1,000.

To check your car's MOT status, you can use our free MOT check tool. Just put in your car's registration number and it tells you whether it has a valid MOT. You should also see when your MOT expires.

How long can you drive without an MOT?

If your car is more than 3 years old, it’s illegal to drive it any distance without an MOT.

The only exception is if you’re driving the car to a pre-booked test at an authorised test centre. But there's no definitive 'maximum distance' for this.

How long is an MOT certificate usually valid for?

An MOT typically lasts for 1 year. The date it runs out should be printed on your MOT certificate.

When does a new car need an MOT?

You should book an MOT for your new car once it’s reached 3 years of age.

If you have a new car, you must book an MOT before the third anniversary of its registration.

However, some cars may need to be tested sooner, often once it's reached 1 year old.

You can check the MOT fees table on GOV.UK to see when your car needs to be first tested.

Can you insure a car without an MOT?

You might be able to insure a car without a valid MOT, but it’s not guaranteed.

However, you can’t legally drive your car unless it has an up-to-date MOT certificate. The only exceptions to this rule are:

• If you’re driving to a pre-arranged MOT appointment at a garage
• Your car is less than 3 years old and doesn’t require an MOT
• Your car was built or first registered more than 40 years ago, making it a classic car

Can you tax a car without an MOT?

No, you need a valid MOT certificate to tax your car.

It’s illegal to drive a car without an up-to-date MOT and in addition to driving penalties, it could also invalidate your car insurance.

Car tax rules

Do you legally have to tax your car?

Yes, your car must be taxed to legally use it or keep it on a public road.

But if you're keeping your car off-road, it must have a SORN.

How to check if a car has tax

The easiest way to check if your car is taxed is to visit the government website.

Enter your car registration and it tells you whether the car has valid tax. It also tells you when your tax expires.

If your car isn't taxed, you could get an £80 fine. If you don't pay the fine, your car could be clamped or crushed.

This is why it’s vital you understand how to tax your car correctly.

Can you insure a car without tax?

Your car insurance might be valid even if your car isn’t taxed. Some insurance companies may have it as a condition of insurance though, so it’s important to check your policy.

That said, the penalties for driving an untaxed car can be severe - starting at £80 and rising to more than £1,000.

If the police discover you haven’t taxed your car, they can issue you a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of up to £1,000.

Insurance companies don’t like driving convictions either. So if you’re caught driving an untaxed car, you may see the cost of your car insurance increase.

Can you get an MOT without tax?

Yes, but only to a test centre. You can drive your car to get an MOT done even if the car isn’t taxed or the MOT has run out.

Without a valid MOT, you can’t pay or renew your car tax.

Can you cancel your car tax?

Yes, and you can even apply for a refund for the remaining months.

You can cancel your car tax with the DVLA. But before cancelling, you must tell them if:

• You’ve sold the car or transferred ownership
• You’ve taken the car off the road and declared SORN
• The car was written off by your insurance company
• The vehicle was scrapped
• Your car was stolen
• The car has been exported out of the UK
• The car has been registered as exempt from vehicle tax

Car insurance rules

Why is car insurance mandatory?

Car insurance is a legal requirement if you own a road-worthy car. Third-party insurance is the lowest level of cover available and the minimum legal level required.

A valid car insurance policy provides drivers with financial protection and covers them in case of an accident. Some policies also cover injuries to other drivers, pedestrians and passengers.

These policies were designed to cover drivers for the costs included after an accident. It could potentially cover the repair costs for your or another person’s car.

How to check your car insurance

You can check if your car is insured by visiting the Motor Insurance Database (MID).

The MID was created to help compensate the victims of uninsured drivers and so holds the details of all insured cars in the UK.

Its askMID service is free to use. It can identify the make and model of your car as well as whether it’s insured.

Can you insure a car without an MOT?

If you don’t have a valid MOT certificate, your insurance could become invalid.

Most insurance providers include a valid MOT certificate as a condition of your policy. This means if you drive without an MOT, you may also be driving without valid insurance.

If your insurer doesn’t include this condition, your car must be roadworthy for your policy to be valid. While this doesn’t necessarily mean you need a MOT, a valid MOT certificate is often used as proof of this.

Driving without insurance is an offence and could result in a £300 fine. Driving without a valid MOT certificate is also illegal and could result in a fine of £1,000.

With this in mind, it’s safer to have a valid MOT certificate to ensure you’re driving legally.

Can you tax a car without insurance?

No. Before you tax your car you need to have a valid car insurance policy in place.

You may not need car insurance if you’ve declared it off-road with a SORN.

Thankfully, you don’t need your car insurance documents to tax your car. When you tax your car, the system should be able to tell whether the vehicle you’re paying tax on is insured or not.

What happens if I cancel my car insurance?

As the policy is a private arrangement between you and your insurer, you can cancel your car insurance at any time.

But, once you’ve cancelled, you shouldn’t drive your vehicle as it’s illegal to drive without insurance.

Driving without insurance could be a costly mistake. The police could give you a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 points on your licence.

If it’s taken to court, you could get an unlimited fine and be disqualified from driving. Your car could also be seized and destroyed by the police.

If you need more time to compare insurance quotes, temporary car insurance could be an option until you have a longer-term plan.

Car servicing rules

Is it illegal to not service your car?

It’s not a legal requirement to service your car.

But an annual service could help your car’s condition and help you avoid expensive repairs further down the line.

When it comes to selling your car, having a full-service history could help increase the price.

How often should you service your car?

You should service your car year every 12 months or every 12,000 miles.

But if the ‘service required’ light turns on, it’s advised you book a service as soon as possible.

The service light is one of the many warning lights your dashboard may have. It’s often used to remind drivers to change the oil and filter in their cars.

But it could also mean there's a problem elsewhere, which is why you should book a service when it appears, just to be sure.

If you’ve bought or inherited property within the parish boundaries of a church, you may be faced with a bill for chancel repair liability. This can be expensive.

To cover you for local church bills, it's worth considering chancel repair liability insurance. Here’s what you need to know.

Confused.com doesn’t compare specialist home insurance that covers chancel repair. This guide is for your information only.

What is chancel repair liability?

Chancel repair liability relates to an ancient law that requires some landowners in England and Wales to pay for the maintenance of their local church.

The maintenance is for the chancel of the church, where you find the altar, pulpit and choir.

This law dates back to medieval times. But it was updated in 2013 and is still in force.

If you own land within the boundaries of a parish church built before 1536, you could be faced with a chancel repair liability bill. Even if you don’t attend church, you might still have to pay.

There’s the option of getting chancel repair insurance which should cover you if you’re asked to pay the church. But, luckily, the chances of getting such a bill are small.

Did chancel repair liability end in 2013?

No, but the rules were updated in October 2013. Chancel repair liability is no longer considered an ‘overriding interest’.

This means that chancel repair liability has to be registered at the Land Registry for it to still affect a property.

Churches were expected to register liability before 13 October 2013, even if they didn’t plan on billing homeowners.

Churches can still register liability unless the land or property has been sold since 12 October 2013.

This means, if you bought a home after October 2013 and there was no notice registered, you're unlikely to get a chancel repair liability bill.

But if you were gifted or inherited the house before October 2013 and still own it now, you may be liable.

If liability has been registered on a property by the church, it must be stated on the title deeds to inform potential buyers.

Is my house liable for chancel repair?

If your home or land is within the parish boundaries of a medieval church, you could be liable for chancel repair.

But, due to updates to the law, chancel repair liability shouldn’t affect people who bought property after 2013 - unless the church has already registered liability.

You should be able to check if your house is liable by looking at your title deeds. But evidence of the church claiming for chancel repair isn’t always recorded.

Before buying a house, instruct your solicitor to carry out a chancel repair search. This should reveal if the property is liable for chancel repairs.

These searches can cost between £20 to £100 depending on which type of search you choose. These searches usually take 5-10 days to complete.

Are new build houses liable for chancel repair?

If your house was built after 13 October 2013, you're unlikely to be liable for chancel repair.

But the church is still able to register interest in the property with the Land Registry, even after this date.

This should be shown on the title deeds, but this isn't always the case. Check with your solicitor to be sure.

Although the developer may be aware of the church and the property’s position within the parish boundaries, they may not know whether it’s actually liable.

How much does chancel repair liability insurance cost?

Chancel repair liability insurance is different from other policies as you pay through a single payment. But how much you pay depends on what type of policy you get.

If you haven’t had a chancel repair search carried out and you don't know whether you’re actually liable, the policy could cost around £20.

If you know you’re liable and there’s a higher possibility of having to pay out, it could be more expensive. It could increase to around £40.

It’s important to note that we don't compare chancel repair liability insurance. But we can help you compare home insurance quotes.

Do I need to buy annual insurance to cover chancel repair costs?

No, it’s a one-off payment that should cover you for up to 25 years.

You might be expected to pay for the policy before your completion date when buying the home. After 25 years, you need to renew the policy.

But you don't have to worry about making an annual payment as you would when renewing buildings or contents insurance.

How long does chancel repair liability insurance cover me for?

The length of the cover depends on the type of policy you buy.

Most chancel repair liability insurance policies cover you for up to 25 years. Others might cover you for as long as you own the property.

There are even some policies that cover properties forever. Check your policy carefully before buying, and shop around to find a policy that suits your wallet.

Finding cheap car insurance as a student can be difficult. You may not need to drive all year round so an annual car insurance policy could add unnecessary costs.

Whether you’re planning a road trip with friends or are driving home for Christmas, temporary student car insurance offers a more flexible solution. Lower the cost of driving while at university by only paying for the cover you need.

What is temporary student car insurance?

Short-term or temporary student car insurance is a type of temporary car insurance designed to meet the needs of students. It can offer you cover for another person’s vehicle from 1 hour to 28 days.

You don’t have to commit to a long-term insurance policy when choosing temporary car insurance. Instead, you can get a short-term policy to use another person’s vehicle - for example, a parent's or friend’s car.

By using temporary student car insurance, you don’t have to add yourself as a named driver to another person’s policy. This can sometimes work out cheaper and shouldn’t affect the vehicle owner’s no-claims bonus.

Who is temporary student insurance suitable for?

Different policies have different eligibility criteria. But, you should be able to get temporary student car insurance if you:

• Are a registered student
• Are aged between 18-27
• Have a full, valid UK driving licence (issued in England, Wales or Scotland)
• Have a permanent UK address
• Have been driving for at least 6 months
• Have permission from the owner of the vehicle you want to cover

If you’re not a student, there are other temporary car insurance policies you can choose from.

What does temporary student car insurance cover?

This depends on your chosen policy and insurance provider.

Some insurers only cover vehicles valued from £1,500 to £25,000 or those that are up to 7 years old.

Many temporary car insurance policies for students include:

• Comprehensive cover: Comprehensive cover as standard means you have the highest level of cover. This includes damage to the vehicle you're borrowing.
• Legal expenses cover: Legal expenses cover means your legal costs should be covered during an accident. Depending on the insurer, there may be a maximum amount that can be paid out.
• Personal accident cover: This means you can make a claim if you suffer from injuries during a car accident. Every insurer should have a maximum payout amount.
• Medical expenses: Should a car accident result in medical costs, you can make a claim with your insurer.
• Personal belongings cover: This includes cover for any lost, damaged or stolen personal belongings during an accident, fire or theft.

How much is temporary car insurance for students?

The cost of your temporary car insurance depends on a variety of factors. These include:

• Your age
• The length of time you need the policy for
• Your driving experience
• The car you’re borrowing
• Your location

By comparing temporary insurance, you could find cheaper options as you’re only paying for the cover you need.

It can be especially helpful for new or learner drivers looking for car insurance, as their lack of experience could increase their insurance costs.

It's important that you're honest with the insurers when you compare quotes to get a more accurate policy. Withholding information could mean that your policy is at risk of being invalidated.

Why would I need short-term car insurance as a student?

Just about to move to university and need to use a friend’s car? Want to share the driving with your parents over Christmas break? Temporary student car insurance could be worth considering.

Short-term car insurance is designed to help you keep your independence. So, students might need temporary car insurance when:

• Moving their stuff to campus
• Driving home from university
• Driving during road trips or holidays
• Borrowing their parent's or friend’s car
• Faced with an emergency

Benefits of temporary student car insurance

Short-term or temporary car insurance can be a quick and convenient option for students. You get fully comprehensive cover without the cost of an annual policy.

The main benefits of temporary car insurance include:

• Flexibility and convenience: You can set up your temporary car insurance cover for as little as 1 hour or as many as 28 days. You can prearrange cover for future use or even organised last minute for an emergency.
• **It could save you time and money: **You don’t need to wait to apply for a new insurance policy or change an existing one. You only pay for the cover you need during the requested time you need it.
• **Protects no-claims discount: **Some vehicle owners may be reluctant to let you drive their car as it could risk the no-claims discount they’ve built up. Temporary car insurance policies offer peace of mind as it doesn’t affect the no-claims bonus of the person whose car you’re borrowing.

What other options are available to students?

Other than temporary car insurance, students also have the following options when driving:

Annual car insurance

If you have your own car, you have the option of choosing an annual car insurance policy. This is especially helpful to students who drive often.

You have the option of choosing from 3 main types of car insurance:

• Third-party: This is the lowest level of cover available to drive legally. It covers you if you damage someone else’s property or injure them while driving. It also covers your passengers.
• Third-party, fire and theft: This insures you against damage you might cause to someone else, their car or their property, including passengers. It also covers the repair or replacement of your car if it’s stolen or damaged by fire.
• Fully comprehensive: Also known as ‘fully comp’, this gives you the most protection. It covers you, your car and other people and their property.

Pay as you go car insurance

Pay as you go car insurance charges you based on the number of miles you drive.

To start, you pay a flat base rate for your cover. You then pay extra on top of this for each additional mile you drive. It could be a cheaper option for those who only drive every now and then. The flat base rate is often cheaper than what you might be expected to pay for a standard car insurance policy.

Adding yourself as a named driver

You can add yourself as a named driver to a friend's or parent's car insurance policy. This means you become an additional driver with the same cover as the vehicle’s owner. You can then drive their car at any time.

Be careful of car insurance fronting when adding a named driver as it could invalidate your insurance.

Fronting is when someone claims a more experienced driver is the main driver of the vehicle when that's not the case. It’s often done to get lower insurance costs, but it’s a type of fraud that comes with risks such as invalid claims.

Be honest with your insurer to help avoid these risks.