Every vehicle record carries a next MOT due date. Pistonlog reads it from the DVSA when you create the vehicle and updates it whenever you re-run the lookup. The MOT reminder system fires from this date — see Reminder triggers.
Where the date comes from
- On vehicle creation: DVSA returns the current MOT expiry and Pistonlog stores it.
- After an MOT job: When you complete a jobcard containing an MOT job, the completion dialog prompts you to set the new expiry date.
- Manually: You can edit it on the vehicle record at any time.
- DVSA refresh: Open the vehicle and click Refresh from DVSA to re-pull current data.
When the date is wrong
If a customer says their MOT was renewed but Pistonlog still shows the old date, the DVSA's lookup hasn't picked it up yet (their database refreshes overnight). Click Refresh from DVSA on the vehicle — usually fixes it within 24 hours of the test.
What "MOT due" actually means
The date is the expiry of the current MOT certificate. A reminder configured with a 30-day interval sends 30 days before this date. Driving without a valid MOT in the UK is illegal — set the reminder for at least a week before expiry as a safety margin.