A third of motorists have admitted to driving a vehicle knowing it has no MOT, a new survey from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has shown.
Of 1,000 drivers questioned who admitted to driving without an MOT, 67 per cent admitted to having driven for up to a week without a valid certificate, 24 per cent for up to a month and 7 per cent for as long as six months. 2 per cent of those surveyed admitted to driving for more than six months without a valid MOT.
The survey highlighted that men are more likely to continue driving after their MOT has lapsed, with 35 per cent admitting to doing so, compared to 31 per cent of female drivers.
Drivers in the East Midlands were also found to be the least likely to drive an untested car, with only 15 per cent admitting to having done so. Conversely, those in the South West were found to be most likely to drive without an MOT, with 41 per cent admitting to forgetting.
The results also found that younger drivers are worst at remembering their test date, with 39.3 per cent admitting to forgetting. The group least likely to drive a car without a certificate was the 45-54 age group, of whom only 28 per cent admitted to driving without an MOT.
If caught driving without an MOT, motorists risk a fine of up to £1,000 as well as potentially invalidating their insurance, which itself carries a penalty of between 6 and 8 penalty points.
"Each year, a significant proportion of motorists forget their car's MOT, risking safety, fines and penalty points," said Mike Baunton, SMMT Interim Chief Executive. "Manufacturer main dealers are the best place to go to be sure of the most highly-trained technicians, using the parts manufacturers recommend along with the best diagnostic equipment."
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