It crashes and you suddenly remember: The main inspection, colloquially known as the MOT, was overdue. My car doesn't have a valid inspection sticker at the moment - I have an accident without an MOT.
In our guide, we explain when an expired MOT can become a problem and the best way to proceed after an accident with an expired MOT. The good news: Your car insurance will most likely cover the damage, but you may have to pay a big chunk extra depending on the expiry date.
- If you are involved in a road accident without a valid MOT, you will not be in for a nasty surprise if you are only just over the limit.
- However, if your MOT has been expired for more than two months, you may have to undergo a recourse check by your car insurance company.
- However, you can only be held liable if you have acted with gross negligence. This must then be checked by an expert.
- The longer your MOT sticker has been expired, the greater the suspicion against you. In the worst case scenario, your insurance company will not cover the damage.
- The other party involved in the accident, on the other hand, has nothing to fear, as the insurance cover is maintained even without an MOT.
Accident without MOT - What are the consequences?
What happens if you have an accident without an MOT? The good news is that if you are only a few days late, you should not expect any serious consequences. Nevertheless, you should endeavour to make an appointment for the main inspection as soon as possible. This is because you will be fined for the first time after a period of two months. If you wait any longer, it will be much more expensive and you may even collect points in Flensburg.
We therefore advise you to have your main inspection in good time to ensure your road safety. You play it safe and avoid any discussions with your insurance company.
Use the free of charge and without obligation Initial assessment of fairforce.one
If the main inspection is more than two months late, the test centres often charge 20 percent more for the inspection. This is justified by the additional work involved.
TipIf you are still driving a new car, your first general inspection is only due after 36 months instead of the usual two years.
How long do I have insurance cover without an MOT?
- 2 to 4 months overdrawn: 15 euros
- 4 to 8 months overdrawn: 25 euros
- More than 8 months overdue: 60 euros and 1 point
However, these penalties are not enforced by the insurer or the inspection body, but by the legislator in accordance with the catalogue of fines.
However, the longer you are on the road with an expired MOT, the greater the suspicion of gross negligence against you. This would be very unfavourable for you in a recourse case. However, if you are only a few days overdue, it is usually assumed that you forgot the deadline due to carelessness. In this case, you usually have nothing to fear. If you have exceeded the deadline by more than two months, you will be in need of an explanation.
Tip: The injured party does not have to worry. The insurance cover of the person responsible for the accident remains effective even without an MOT and fully covers all damage caused to third parties.
Do I have insurance cover even if the MOT has expired?
If an accident occurs without an MOT, the insurance company will check whether the vehicle owner has acted with gross negligence. If you drive without a valid MOT, this can be interpreted as slight negligence on your part. As the vehicle owner, you must ensure that the deadlines are met.
In most cases, however, you can assume that your insurance company will not penalise you as a result. If you are guilty of gross negligence, your insurance company can take recourse against you. This means that you may be asked to pay part of the claim yourself - and that can be expensive!
Good to knowIn order for your insurance company to be able to make a claim against you, your insurance company must doubt the roadworthy condition of your vehicle and call in an expert to check your car's roadworthiness. If you have not been to the garage for a long time, the worst-case scenario is that you will quickly be found out.
The accident has nothing to do with the performance tested by TÜV?
If your accident has nothing to do with the performance tested by the MOT, this does not have a negative effect on the insurance company's coverage of the costs. In concrete terms, this means that the engine and brakes, for example, are tested during the general inspection. However, if the accident is simply due to human error, the validity of the MOT is not decisive for the insurance. The accident could probably not have been avoided by the main inspection.
Steps towards fair claims settlement
Are you involved in an accident with a car without an MOT, at least partly through no fault of your own? Or the person responsible for the accident no longer has an MOT? Then it's best to report it quickly to fairforce.one. The proven procedure at a glance:
- You get into a traffic accident through no fault of your own and want to claim compensation.
- You report the accident to us risk-free and free of charge by telephone on 0800 30 111 60 or even faster online.
- Our competent team will examine your case immediately and explain how to proceed.
- The claims settlement is initiated and you no longer have to bother with paperwork.
- We make sure that you remain mobile.
The licensed specialists from the Network from fairforce.one will take care of the necessary tasks and deal with your claims for damages, absolutely competently and without risk for you.
Accident victims in your situation simply get the best support from fairforce.one.
Depending on the cause of the accident, customers receive an average of €4802 Additional payment
Callback within 5 minutes.
Questions and answers about driving without MOT
Driving without MOT - Who is liable?
If you cause an accident, you are of course also liable for it. Regardless of whether you drive with or without an MOT. However, the good news is that your motor vehicle liability insurance will still cover you. Especially if you are only a few days late with the main inspection. Only if the MOT inspection is overdue for a longer period of time can your insurance company make a claim for compensation. However, you must have acted with gross negligence. This usually requires an expert opinion. The longer your MOT has been overdue, the higher the costs can be for you, up to and including a complete refusal of settlement.
Good to know: As the victim of an accident, you have nothing to fear. The insurance cover of the person responsible remains intact even without an MOT.
What happens if I have an accident with a car without an MOT?
The decisive factor here is how long the MOT expired before the accident happened. If it is only a few days, there are usually no recourse claims from the insurance company.
However, the longer you wait, the better your insurance company's chances of taking recourse against you as the (partially) responsible party and recovering part of the damage from you.
As the victim of an accident, you have nothing to fear. The insurance of the person responsible remains valid even without an MOT and covers all damage caused to you in full.
What happens to the insurance if I overstay my MOT?
If you drive without an MOT and cause an accident, this can affect the insurance benefits and lead to recourse claims. The longer the MOT has been expired, the higher the risk of recourse. The insurance company can therefore claim back part of the damage from you. Driving without an MOT with insurance can therefore still lead to high costs for you. It is therefore better to think about the main inspection in good time.
