Here's a one. My car was first regged in Oct 2004. I bought in this time last year and the seller MOT'd it the week before I bought it. I needed the MOT and SORN details to tax it at his post office so i could drive it home.

Today I get the V11 through and it is offering to let me tax it online AND at the bottom it says "this vehicle requires an appropriate MOT test certificate from 05 10 2007".

I read this to mean that I don't need to MOT it this year but it contradicts what others have said about you needing to MOT it every year once you get into the system. I shall try and tax it online next week and let you know how I get on.

That is an interesting one! It should let you tax it online sans MOT of the form is correct. If not, then go down to the Post Office and do it over the counter.

I had no MOT pre/post SVA, but my first tax renewal form said "appropriate MOT cert.". I showed the bloke at the PO the V5C proving first reg a year ago and he just crossed out the MOT wording, took my dosh and gave me the tax disc!

This is exactly the problem I had. My understanding of it was that the only Mot you ducked was the first one because you had SVA, & that subsequently you had to Mot each year (unless built from new parts & on a new reg), loads of people on here said this was not the case & I queried it with Post Office & was told defo needed Mot after 1 year.
It seems to be differently interpreted in different areas around the country.

i had to sva then mot on the same day-boring!!!!!

And the good news is I just taxed the car online successfully. Sorted.

So in summary it looks like even if your car is MOT'd before it is due then you don't get "into the system".

I asked the question at the DVLA office about 6 months ago.

I was told it was supposed to work thus.

q plate - MOT every year from registration
age related - MOT every year from registration
New plate - no MOT for first three years, then yearly.

Darren

Don't you just love consistency .
Regardless of DVLA, (and what some say), I don't know anyone who's been asked for MOT for the first 3 years regardless of age related or 'Q' when taxing their kit.
Mine will be 3 next year, so I'm expecting to have to get it tested for next summer.

Just to close this off. Tax disc arrived no problem. Sorted.

When I asked the local station they said q plate needed one every year, age related and new plates only needed the first mot 3 years after registration.

Who knows, best to ask your local dvla as they all have different rules.

Glad you have got it sorted anyway

David