Comprehensive MOT Test Centre Information Near Me

Find the nearest MOT Test Centres. Enter your postcode in the search box and we'll find all the MOT Stations near you ordered by distance. In addition to a handy map we will also include booking telephone numbers and, where possible, opening times. If you have a car, van, motor bike, private passenger vehicle or, even, a trike, we'll list all the M.O.S. Test Centers near you.

MOT Test Centre Counties

UK MOT Test Centres in County Durham

DL13 5LP
DL13 5NN
DL13 5QQ
DL13 5LW
DL13 5QH
DL13 5LS
DL13 5LR
DL13 5QG
DL13 5LU
DL13 5QF
DL13 5LY
DL13 5LX
DL13 5LT
DL13 5SD
DL13 5LZ
DL13 5NA
DL13 5NB
DL13 5SA
DL13 5LN
DL13 5QE
DL13 5PQ
DL13 5QJ
DL13 5LA
DL13 5LL
DL13 5QA
DL13 5QD
DL13 5RD
DL13 5QL
DL13 5PY
DL13 5PZ
DL13 5QB
DL13 5JZ
DL13 5QU
DL13 5PU
DL13 5QN
DL13 5PS
DL13 5PX
DL13 5PR
DL13 5PP
DL13 5PW
DL13 5PN
DL13 5ND
DL13 5PL
DL13 5JY
DL13 5QW
DL13 5LD
DL13 5PH
DL13 5PJ
DL13 5LB
DL13 5LQ
DL13 5JX
DL13 5QT
DL13 5QS
DL13 5QR
DL13 5NX
DL13 5NW
DL12 8RZ
DL13 5NU
DL13 5QP
DL13 5JU
DL13 5PA
DL13 5NF
DL13 5JT
DL13 5PB
DL13 5JP
DL13 5PF
DL13 5PD
DL13 5JR
DL13 5PE
DL13 5JW
DL13 5JS
DL13 5HT
DL13 5YX
DL13 5SB
DL13 5RE
DL13 5RF
DL13 3QP
DL13 3QR
DL13 5RG
DL13 5HU
DL13 5RZ
DL13 3QS
DL13 5HH
DL13 5HY
DL13 5RQ
DL13 5HX
DL13 5RS
DL13 5HQ
DL13 5JG
DL13 5JN
DL13 5NG
DL13 5RJ
DL2 3AX
DL13 5JE
DL13 5RL
DL13 5NQ
DL13 5RN
DL13 3QT
DL13 5RW
DL13 5RH
DL13 5RA
DL13 5JF
DL13 5JQ
DL13 5RP
DL12 8RY
DL13 5JB
DL13 5JA
DL2 3AT
DL13 5JH
DL13 5HF
DL13 5HP
DL13 5RR
DL13 5HZ
DL13 5EW
DL12 8RX
DL13 5EY
DL13 5JL
DL13 5EX
DL13 5HA
DL13 5RT
DL13 5HB
DL12 8SE
DL13 5EZ
DL13 5HD
DL13 5EH
DL13 5HE
DL13 5JD
DL13 5ET
DL13 3QW
DL13 3QU
DL13 5EU
DL13 5ES
DL2 3LN
DL13 5EQ
DL13 5ER
DL13 5AZ
DL13 5EG
DL13 5EJ
DL13 5HN
DL13 5EP
DL13 5EL
DL13 5EN
DL13 5YY
DL13 5EF
DL13 5EE
DL13 5DP
DL13 5JJ
DL13 5NH
DL13 5SH
DL13 5WZ
DL13 5HL
DL13 5DT
DL13 5DS
DL13 5AX
DL13 5DW
DL13 5FB
DL13 5EB
DL13 5ED
DL13 3RB
DL13 5DR
DL13 5EA
DL13 5BB
DL12 8RU
DL13 5DX
DL13 5DZ
DL13 5AH
DL13 5DU
DL12 8SF
DL13 5BA
DL13 5HG
DL13 5DL
DL13 5BD
DL13 5AU
DL13 5DH
DL13 5DY
DL13 3QX
DL13 5DN
DL13 5NJ
DL13 5DJ
DL13 5AG
DL13 5DQ
DL13 3QY
DL13 5AS
DL13 5AT
DL13 5DA
DL13 5AF
DL13 5AR
DL2 3LJ
DL13 5DF
DL13 5AA
DL13 5AQ
DL13 5DG
DL13 5AY
DL12 8SD
DL13 5AE
DL13 5DE
DL13 5AP
DL13 5BG
DL13 5RY
DL13 5BE
DL14 0PJ
DL13 3QL
DL13 3RD
DL13 5DD
DL13 3QN
DL13 5RU
DL13 5AD
DL13 5AB
DL13 5BJ
DL13 5AJ
DL2 3AJ
DL13 3RA
DL13 3QJ
DL12 8SA
DL14 0PN
DL13 3QZ
DL14 0PQ
DL13 5HJ
DL14 0PH
DL14 0PL
DL13 5AW
DL14 0PG
DL14 0PW
DL13 5BQ
DL13 5AL
DL13 5BH
DL14 0PP
DL2 3LL
DL13 5AN
DL12 8SL
DL12 8RT
DL2 3AH
DL12 8SB
DL14 0PF
DL13 5RX
DL13 3QQ
DL2 3AN

When to get an MOT

The MOT test is designed to check that your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards defined by the Department for Transport.

The rules that determine when you need to MOT your vehicle depend on the type of vehicle you have and what you use it for. These rules are grouped into Classes which currently include 1, 2, 3, 4, 4a, 5, 5a and 7. Broardly speaking you need to MOT your vehicle on;

  • the third anniversary of its registration
  • the anniversary of its last MOT, if it's over 3 years old
The exception to this is vehicles that are categorised as Class 4, 5 and 5a which need to be MOT tested every 12 months.

Driving a vehicle without an MOT can attract a fine of up to £1,000

Expired MOT certificate

It is not acceptable to drive a vehicle if its MOT has certificate expired. Doing so can result in a prosecution. Exceptions to this rule are;

  • to or from somewhere to be repaired,
  • to a pre-arranged MOT test1.

1A pre-arranged MOT test is one that has been arranged in advance. If you are stopped on the way to a drop in MOT test centre without an appointment you may not qualify for an exemption.

MOT renewal

An MOT lasts for a calendar year. The MOT expiration date is printed on the MOT pass certificate.

It is important to ensure your vehicle's MOT test certificate is renewed before the MOT test due date. This is can be done as early as a month minus 1 day before the expiration of the current certificate or anniversary of the registration of the vehicle. It is acceptable to get a new MOT test certificate at any time, however, the start date of the certificate will change if the renewal date is more than a month minus a day before the expiration of the current certificate.

MOT Test Fees and Class Descriptions

The Department for Transport has specified maximum fees that MOT test centres can charge. These are broken down by the Class of the vehicle as this roughly equates to the amount of effort required by the MOT Test Centre to carry out the test. The following table explains the Classes and associated costs.

ClassVehicle TypeAge before
MOT (years)
Maximum
Fee
1Motorcycle (engine size up to 200cc)3£ 29.65
1Motorcycle with sidecar (engine size up to 200cc)3£ 37.80
2Motorcycle (engine size over 200cc)3£ 29.65
2Motorcycle with sidecar (engine size over 200cc)3£ 37.80
33-wheeled vehicles (up to 450kg unladen weight)3£ 37.80
43-wheeled vehicles (over 450kg unladen weight)3£ 54.85
4Cars (up to 8 passenger seats)3£ 54.85
4Motor caravans3£ 54.85
4Quads (max unladen weight 400kg - for goods vehicles 550kg and max net power of 15kw)3£ 54.85
4Dual purpose vehicles3£ 54.85
4Private hire and public service vehicles (up to 8 seats)3£ 54.85
4Ambulances and taxis1£ 54.85
4Private passenger vehicles and ambulances (9 to 12 passenger seats)1£ 57.30
4Goods vehicles (up to 3,000kg design gross weight)3£ 54.85
4aClass 4 vehicles (9 to 12 passenger seats) with a seat belt installation check£ 64.00
5Private passenger vehicles and ambulances (13 to 16 passenger seats)1£ 59.55
5Private passenger vehicles and ambulances (more than 16 passenger seats)1£ 80.65
5Playbuses1£ 80.65
5aClass 5 vehicles (13 to 16 passenger seats) with a seatbelt installation check£ 80.50
5aClass 5 vehicles (more than 16 passenger seats) with a seatbelt installation check£ 124.50
7Goods vehicles (over 3,000kg up to 3,500kg design gross weight)3£ 58.60

Test Failures and Retests

If your vehicle has failed its MOT Test you may qualify for a free or reduced retest.

If the MOT Test Centre carries out the repair then ordinarily they would retest the vehicle at a reduced cost or no cost at all, depending on the nature of the work and the time between the two MOT tests.

If you decide to take your vehicle away for repair you will need to ensure that your vehicle's current certificate is still valid. If your certificate is no longer valid then you will only be able to take your vehicle to a repair agent to get the defects corrected and to an MOT Test Centre with a pre-arranged MOT test appointment. You will not be able to take your vehicle to any other location.

If you have taken your vehicle away for repair and manage to return it to the same test centre before the end of the next working day for a retest, the MOT Test Centre will not charge for the partial retest, assuming the repair is one or more of the following items;

  • access panels
  • battery
  • bonnet
  • bootlid
  • brake pedal antislip
  • break glass hammer (class 5 vehicles only)
  • doors (including hinges, catches and pillars)
  • door open warning device (class 5 vehicles only)
  • dropsides
  • electrical wiring
  • emergency exits and signs (class 5 vehicles only)
  • entrance door remote control (class 5 vehicles only)
  • entrance/exit steps (class 5 vehicles only)
  • fuel filler cap
  • headlamp cleaning or levelling devices (that doesn’t need a headlamp aim check)
  • horn
  • lamps (excluding headlamp aim)
  • loading door
  • main beam 'tell-tale'
  • mirrors
  • rear reflectors
  • registration plates
  • seatbelts (but not anchorages), seatbelt load limiter and seatbelt pre-tensioner
  • seats
  • sharp edges or projections
  • stairs (class 5 vehicles only)
  • steering wheel
  • tailboard
  • tailgate
  • trailer electrical sockets
  • towbars (excluding body around anchorage points)
  • tyre pressure monitoring system
  • vehicle identification number (VIN)
  • windscreen glass, wipers and washers
  • wheels and tyres (excluding motorcycles and motorcycles with sidecar)
If the repair is for another fault or you do not get your vehicle back within the time period then you are eligible for a charge.

If you return your vehicle, after a repair, within 10 working days of the original test then the MOT Test Centre can complete a partial test which may be free or at a reduce charge. If it is not within this period then the MOT Text Centre will need to carry out a full test for which a full charge can be made.

Booking an MOT

MOT Test Centres offer a variety of methods for booking your vehicle in for a test. The primary means of booking is by phone. Our website offers a handy click to call facility if you are using a compatible device saving the need to save or write the number down. It is also worth noting that many sites now have online booking capabilities making it quick and easy for you to book your car in for a test.

MOT Test Centre maximum fees are controlled. Familiarise yourself with the Class of your vehicle and ensure that the MOT Test Centre does not charge you more than the maximum fee specified.

How does the MOT Test work?

An MOT test is an annual check of qualifying vehicles by an approved agent of items the Department of Transport has deemed essential for the safe operation of the vehicle on the public highway. Checks vary by vehicle category but all include essential items like headlights, seatbelt and tyres.

The MOT Test is designed to ensure the vehicle meets road safety and emission standards as defined by the Department for Transport. The test ensures your vehicle is in appropriate condition for use on the road. The MOT Test focuses on elements of the vehicle that ensure the safety of the driver, passengers and other road users. The Test does not concern itself with the condition of the vehicle's engine or gearbox, for example, but does focus on items such as seat belts, breaks and lights. For a full guide please read the MOT Inspection Manual.

Whilst the MOT Test is being performed you are allowed to view the Test from the MOT Public viewing area. You are not, however, allowed to interact with the Tester during the course of their duties.

MOT Test Completion

When the MOT Tester has completed the inspection you will be issued with a certificate. This can be an MOT Certificate, if the vehicle has passed, or a refusal of an MOT Test Certificate. In either case the outcome, along with the vehicles odometer reading will be recorded in the MOT test database, which is a national register.

If the vehicle has passed the MOT Test the MOT Certificate will be issued with, amoungst other things, the epiration date of the Certificate. You will need to repeat this process again before this date.

If the vehicle has NOT passed the MOT Test the refusal of an MOT Test Certificate will be issued which contains the reasons why the vehicle failed the test. If you decide to take the vehicle away for repair then please ensure you have familiarised yourself with the rules related to retesting your vehicle, especially if your MOT Test Certificate has expired.

If you feel you vehicle has been incorrectly failed then you may lodge an appeal with the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) by calling them on 0300 123 9000 week days between 7:30am to 6pm. You should also contact them if you think your MOT Test Certificate is not geniune or if you think your vehicle has passed when it shouldn't have.

Driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition can attract a fine of up to £2,000, a driving ban and 3 penalty points
Information on this site is correct at time of publication. We assume no responsibility for any incorrect data, ommissions or errors.
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