The MOT Test Certificate confirms that at the time of the test, the vehicle has met the minimum acceptable environmental and road safety standards. Vehicles under 1 year old can submit a PHVL instead of an MOT.
Requirements
- Must be a photo of the original signed document from the garage if owned, a scanned copy is acceptable if rented
- We do not accept DVSA MOTs even if they have a signature
- All four corners are visible
- Vehicle details must match the Private Hire Vehicle Licence (PHVL) and your FREENOW profile
- Must be within 6 months old
Common reasons for rejection
- Submitting a scanned version when the vehicle is owned
- A DVSA MOT Certificate
- All four corners are not visible
- Older than 6 months old
When to take your MOT Test
Your MOT test timing depends on your PHVL dates:
1. Early MOT Test (Before Mid-Validity of PHVL)
📅 When? From 2 weeks before your PHVL starts, up to 2 weeks before its mid-validity point.
⏳ MOT Expiry: The day before your PHVL reaches mid-validity.
✅ Best for: Staying compliant early and avoiding last-minute MOT renewals.
2. Mid-Term MOT Test (Before PHVL Expiry)
📅 When? From 2 weeks before your PHVL’s mid-validity up to 2 weeks before it expires.
⏳ MOT Expiry: The same day your PHVL expires.
✅ Best for: Ensuring your MOT remains valid until your PHVL renewal.
3. Late MOT Test (Extending into the Next PHVL Cycle)
📅 When? From 2 weeks before your PHVL expires up to 2 weeks before the next PHVL’s mid-validity.
⏳ MOT Expiry: The day before the next PHVL’s mid-validity.
✅ Best for: A seamless transition into your next PHVL cycle.
Note: When updating vehicle documents, your documents are only submitted to our team when all of the documents are updated. For example, if your vehicle has two expired/missing documents, our team will not receive the vehicle to validate until the second document is uploaded.
To view and update your Driver or Vehicle Documents now, head to our FREENOW Portal.