MOT

Every vehicle that is 3 or more years old requires an MOT certificate to be used on the road.  It is an offence to use a motor vehicle on the road without a valid MOT. Any police officer who has reasonable cause to believe you were riding a motorcycle and have either been involved in an accident or committed an offence is entitled to ask you to produce your MOT.

Your MOT is only a certificate that the motorcycle was roadworthy on the day of the test.  You cannot wave it at the police if they subsequently charge you with using an unroadworthy vehicle and expect to get away with it.  Your obligation is to keep your vehicle roadworthy at all times.

What am I looking at?

If you ride on the road without a valid MOT certificate you are looking at a fine up to £1,000, but no points.  However, no MOT means that your insurance is invalidated so you are probably going to be prosecuted for this also.  No insurance carries a fine, points, possible disqualification or other sentence.

The police do not have to issue an NIP and have 6 months from the offence to issue a summons.

What effect does this have on liability?

There is usually a presumption that a vehicle is roadworthy if it holds a valid MOT certificate, although this can be rebutted by evidence. Where there is no valid MOT certificate the onus is likely to be on you to prove the vehicle was roadworthy and did not contribute to the accident. If you are unable to do so your compensation is likely to be reduced for contributory negligence.