When is an MOT expired?
The General Periodic Inspection (APK) is a mandatory inspection for vehicles. An MOT inspection checks whether your car meets environmental and safety requirements. An MOT inspection is performed annually. Six weeks before your MOT expires, you will receive a letter from RDW with your MOT expiration date. You can also view the expiration date online on the RDW website. You must have your car re-inspected before this expiration date. If you do not have your car inspected on time, the MOT expires and without a valid MOT you are not allowed to drive the car. Moreover, you will then receive a fine from the RDW.
How long may an MOT be expired?
Of course, it can happen that you forget to have your car inspected before the expiration date, or that you simply don't have the time. You have up to 2 months after the expiration date to still have your car inspected without the RDW performing a registry check. With an expired APK you are not allowed to drive the car during those two months. It may, however, remain stationary on public roads. So you will not be fined for having an expired MOT immediately after the expiration date ends. After these two months the car must be APK-approved, or the license plate must be suspended.
What are the consequences if you continue to drive?
Therefore, if the MOT has expired, you still have two months to get the car inspected. However, as long as the car is not MOT approved, you may not drive the car. If you do so anyway, you will receive a hefty fine from the RDW. In addition, driving around with an expired MOT can also have consequences for your car insurance. Do you cause a collision in a car with an expired or rejected MOT? Then your insurer may decide that you are not insured at that moment. You will then have to pay for all repair costs yourself.
How high is the fine?
Two months after your MOT expires, you will automatically receive a fine from the Central Judicial Collection Agency (CJIB). Even if you do not drive your car on public roads, you will receive a fine for not meeting the MOT obligation. The RDW tracks down these cars by performing a daily registry check. This involves comparing the inspection data with the license plate register. If it turns out that your MOT has expired, you will receive a fine. In 2021, the fine for an expired MOT is €150. To this is also added €9 in administrative costs. So in total, you will lose €159 if you don't get your car MOTed on time.
How do I avoid an expired MOT?
On the RDW website, you can check when your car's MOT expires. This allows you to make an appointment in time for a new MOT inspection. Do you not want to have your car MOT tested, because you are not going to use the car anymore or because of financial reasons? Then you can suspend the car. The MOT obligation will then expire for the duration of the suspension. If you suspend your car, this does mean that you are no longer allowed to use the car. It may also not be on a public road. As soon as the suspension period expires, you do have APK obligation again. You may drive a car without a valid MOT to the garage. This is only allowed around the time of the inspection. In addition, you must have an appointment confirmation and the car must be insured.
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