Photo: Sergey Meshkov / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.
To drive a car legally in Great Britain you need four things in place: the right driving licence, at least third-party insurance that covers you, vehicle tax, and a current MOT if the car is over three years old. The car must also be registered with DVLA, with the V5C logbook in the keeper’s name. This guide explains each document, the penalties for missing one, and the points a new driver can least afford. It is based on Annex 3 of the Highway Code and DVLA and DVSA guidance on GOV.UK.
Car documents checklist
| Document | Who needs it | Penalty if missing (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Driving licence for the right category | Every driver | Code LC20: 3 to 6 points |
| Insurance (third party minimum) | Every driver, for the car they are driving | £300 fixed penalty and 6 points, or in court an unlimited fine and possible ban |
| MOT certificate | Cars from the third anniversary of registration | Fine of up to £1,000 |
| Vehicle tax (VED) | Every car used or kept on a public road, even if it is exempt | Offence; the car cannot be taxed without a valid MOT |
| V5C registration certificate (logbook) | The registered keeper | Must tell DVLA about a sale, purchase, or name or address change |
Insurance: what is the legal minimum?
You MUST have an insurance policy that at least covers injury or damage to a third party while you use the car (Annex 3). Check the policy covers you in that car before you drive it. If the car is insured but you are not, you can still be penalised.
| Type of cover | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Third party | The legal minimum. Covers anyone you injure or whose property you damage. Does not cover your own car or your own injuries. |
| Third party, fire and theft | As above, plus your car if it is stolen or damaged by fire. |
| Comprehensive | As above, plus damage to your own car up to its market value and personal injury to you. |
Penalties for no insurance
- Police can give a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 points (code IN10 carries 6 to 8 points).
- In court: an unlimited fine and disqualification.
- Police can seize the car and, in some cases, destroy it. Roadside cameras can detect uninsured cars.
- New drivers: 6 points within two years of passing cancels your licence, so one no-insurance offence is enough. See the New Drivers Act.
Continuous insurance enforcement
A registered keeper must keep the car insured unless it has been declared off the road (SORN). If an uninsured car is not SORN, the keeper can get a £100 fine, have the car clamped, impounded or destroyed, and face a court fine of up to £1,000. You can check whether a car is insured on askMID.
Watch for fake policies sold to young drivers: how ghost brokers work. For costs, see why insurance costs so much after passing.
When does a car need its first MOT?
- By the third anniversary of its registration, then every year after that. Some vehicles need testing at one year old.
- An MOT lasts a year. You can take it up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keep the same renewal date. For example, if it runs out on 15 May, the earliest test date that keeps the renewal date is 16 April.
- Cars made or first registered over 40 years ago are exempt, unless they have been substantially changed in the last 30 years.
If the MOT has run out
You cannot drive or park the car on the road. The only exceptions are driving it to a pre-arranged MOT test, or to or from somewhere for repairs. The fine is up to £1,000. Driving an unroadworthy car may also invalidate your insurance. You can check a car’s MOT history and expiry date online on GOV.UK.
Vehicle tax (VED) and SORN
- Vehicle Excise Duty MUST be paid on every vehicle used or kept on a public road. You must tax it even if nothing is due because it is exempt.
- Tax does not transfer when you buy a car. You must tax it before you drive it, or declare it off the road.
- You cannot renew tax if the MOT has expired. MOT records can take up to 2 days to update after a pass.
- Tax online with the reference from a DVLA reminder, the V5C in your name, or the green ‘new keeper’ slip. You can also tax by phone or at a Post Office.
- SORN: if you keep an untaxed car off the road, you MUST declare SORN. It is an offence not to. A SORN car must not be used on the road.
The V5C logbook explained
The V5C (registration certificate) describes the vehicle and names its registered keeper. Annex 3 says you MUST tell DVLA as soon as possible when you:
- buy or sell a car (the seller tells DVLA, and the buyer keeps the green new keeper slip)
- change your name or address
Tell DVLA too if you modify the car. GOV.UK lists a new logbook at £25 (as of November 2026), for example if you bought a car without one (form V62) or lost the original. More on modifications: modifying your first car.
Do you have to carry your documents?
No. But if a police officer asks, you MUST be able to produce your driving licence, a valid insurance certificate and, if needed, a valid MOT certificate. If you don’t have them with you, you may be asked to take them to a police station within 7 days.
Learner drivers: extra requirements
- A valid provisional licence.
- A supervisor aged at least 21 who has held a full licence for that type of car (manual or automatic) for at least three years.
- L plates (D or L plates in Wales), visible from the front and back.
- Insurance that covers a learner in that car.
Full rules: supervising a learner driver.
Common questions
Can I drive a new car home from the seller before taxing it?
No. Tax does not transfer with the car. Tax it online using the green new keeper slip before you drive away.
Can I drive to my MOT if it has expired?
Yes, but only to a pre-arranged test appointment, or to or from a garage for repairs.
Is third party insurance enough?
It is the legal minimum. It does not pay for damage to your own car or your own injuries.
Do I need an MOT for a brand new car?
Not until the third anniversary of its registration, unless it is a type that must be tested at one year.
Does Northern Ireland work the same way?
No. MOTs, insurance checks and taxing at a Post Office have different rules and processes in Northern Ireland. Check nidirect.
What happens if I drive a SORN car?
A SORN car must not be used on the road. It needs tax and insurance first, plus an MOT if it is due one.
Related: penalty points and endorsement codes, basic car maintenance, licence categories and the documents theory topic. Back to the main guide: Learning to Drive in Great Britain.
Sources
- Department for Transport, “The Highway Code: Annex 3. Motor vehicle documentation and learner driver requirements” (gov.uk)
- Department for Transport, “The Highway Code: Annex 5. Penalties” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Getting an MOT: When to get an MOT” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Tax your vehicle” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Register your vehicle as off the road (SORN)” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Vehicle insurance” (Overview, Uninsured vehicles, Driving without insurance) (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Legal obligations of drivers and riders” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Tell DVLA you’ve sold, transferred or bought a vehicle” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Get a vehicle log book (V5C)” and “Vehicle registration” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Penalty points (endorsements): Endorsement codes and penalty points” (gov.uk)