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An MOT has been an important part of owning a vehicle for many years. It’s a test that is carried out on cars, vans, campervans, motorbikes and lorries annually. If you’re buying a new vehicle, it will require its first test after three years – and yearly after that.

So why do you need an MOT certificate for your campervan? To put it simply, the primary purpose of an MOT certificate is to make sure your camper is safe to drive on the road (checking brakes, steering, lights, tyres and so on).

An MOT test won’t look at the engine, gearbox or clutch of your campervan, but they all need to be in good working order to pass. If, for example, your campervan struggles to be driven onto the MOT inspection ramp, then it’s probably going to fail.

New rules if you lose your MOT

For many years, motorists had to keep the paper copy of their MOT safe. The DVLA kept an electronic version of the document, but the owner would need the original paper copy if they were selling the vehicle, if they’d been involved in an accident, or needed to make a campervan insurance claim.

Until May 2019, if for any reason you lost or damaged your MOT paper certificate you would need to get it replaced – and be charged around £10 by a test centre for the privilege.

Since then, the DVSA has changed the rules. Rather than having to pay test centres a replacement fee, motorists who have lost their MOT certificate can now download and print a copy of their MOT for free.

When this MOT replacement service launched, it was estimated it would save motorists a fortune – around £6.3 million each year, to be precise. According to data from 2018, MOT test centres issued more than 630,000 replacement certificates over 12 months.

How to replace a lost MOT certificate

Replacing a lost MOT certificate couldn’t be simpler. All you need to do is go to the dedicated MOT certificate replacement website and follow a few straightforward steps.

First, you’ll need to log into the site. You can do this by entering your campervan registration number and the 11-digit reference number from the camper’s log book (V5C).

Once you are logged in, you can then view an electronic version of your lost MOT certificate and save it as a PDF, which can be printed if required.

If you’d rather get a replacement MOT certificate from your local test centre, it is still possible to do so. It will cost you £10 per copy, but depending on your IT set-up at home, it might prove more efficient to do it that way.

When you might need an MOT certificate

If you have lost your MOT certificate, you may find there aren’t many situations when you need a paper copy of it. But it’s good to know you can access one if you need to.

These days, the MOT history of a vehicle can easily be checked online. But although not a necessary part of the sales process, having a hard copy of an MOT certificate can help when selling your campervan.

Some campervans have a reputation for being more reliable than others. That’s why it’s always advisable to take out campervan insurance. If the previous owner has lost the MOT certificate for the campervan, with the correct information (registration number and V5C reference number) you will be able to print out a duplicate copy via the MOT certificate replacement site.

When selling a second-hand campervan, it’s worth remembering that most buyers are going to be interested in checking its MOT and service history.

Having a full set of up-to-date documents is handy at any time of the year – even more so when the time comes to sell your beloved home on wheels.

Can I drive without an up-to-date MOT?

The law states that every vehicle that is aged three years or more must undergo an MOT test. Driving your campervan without an up-to-date MOT certificate – even if it’s just to the supermarket and back – is illegal.

The only exceptions to this rule are as follows:

-        You are taking your campervan to the MOT test centre

-        You are transferring your campervan from the test centre to a repair garage because it has failed its MOT

-        You are transferring your campervan from the repair centre back to the MOT centre once the required repairs have been carried out

If you are stopped by the police while in the process of making any of these journeys, you will be asked to prove it. You are not going to be able to say you have simply lost your MOT certificate.

To avoid being charged with driving a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate, you can ask the garage or the test centre to confirm your appointment in writing prior to making the journey.

The penalties for driving without an up-to-date MOT include a fine of up to £2,500, three penalty points, and even a driving ban. Remember: campervan insurance can only go so far in protecting your vehicle, the rest is about being a responsible driver.

What to do if your campervan fails its MOT

If your campervan fails its MOT, the garage is not allowed to let you drive it away (unless your previous MOT certificate is still valid).

You’re able to drive your campervan away from the test centre to have the faults fixed. However, if any of the defects have been listed as ‘dangerous’, this will not be possible – and could invalidate your campervan insurance.

Similar to driving a vehicle without an up-to-date MOT, driving one that has recognised dangerous faults could result in a fine, penalty points or a ban.

It’s up to you to ensure your campervan remains roadworthy. Bald tyres, broken seat belts and worn brake pads can be dangerous and need to be identified and dealt with as soon as possible. This could mean getting repairs to your campervan carried out before your MOT is due for renewal.

Protecting your campervan with Lancaster Insurance

Making sure you have a valid MOT and knowing what to do if you’ve lost your MOT certificate are just two ways you can protect your campervan. Another way is making sure you have the right campervan insurance in place.

At Lancaster Insurance, our team of experts can help you find a policy that’s tailored to your needs, including EU cover, breakdown cover, gas bottle and awning cover, and more.

Get a quote for campervan insurance today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.