How do you prevent the date your MOT expires from getting closer and closer each year. My MOT expires on 14th but had it MOT'd on 7th. Now the MOT expires on the 7th next year rather than the 14th so I've missed out on 7 days. Do I just need to get the MOT booked for the exact same date it expires? And if so how do I then drive my car to the garage with an expired MOT
If you had took your mot with you should have had the new MOT dated for the 14th. I take mine about 3 weeks before just in case any repairs are required but I still have my original date when expired on the new mot.
As others have said, you can get the MoT done up to one month in advance and still get the renewal date on the certificate. You need to take the old certificate with you and tell the testing garage that this is what you want to do. It's that simple.
Further to the last part of your question, it is perfectly legal to drive a car with no MOT directly to an MOT testing station providing you have a pre-booked appointment, so you'd have been OK anyway.
If you take your current certificate with you, and just tell the engineer you have done this and want the appropriate time adding onto the MOT.
I always do this and have not had any problems.
the new computer system at DVLA has made the need for bringing your old certificate obsolete, it should automatically update your MOT to the correct date.