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

Bolam
Boldron
Heatherycleugh
Sherburn
High Shincliffe
Leeholme
South Cleatlam
Escomb
Hill End
Low Westwood
Langley Park
Bedburn
Ebchester
Townfield
Blackhall Rocks
Newbiggin
Brancepeth
Roddymoor
Chester Moor
Langton
East Blackdene
Leadgate
Briscoe
Raby
Northgrain
Lonton
Mountsett
Billy Row
Woodland
Kelloe
Lynesack
Hurworth Burn
Ouston
Tantobie
Bradbury
Hett
Evenwood
Woodstone Village
New Town
St John's Chapel
New Brancepeth
Dalton-le-Dale
Clough Dene
Thorpe Larches
Lane Head
Crookgate Bank
Hesleden
Gainford
Ingleton
Lendings
Coundon Grange
Redford
West Rainton
Stanley
Birtley
Brignall
Cowshill
Burnopfield
Littletown
Broompark
Hury
Esh
Helmington Row
Metal Bridge
Coppy
Fir Tree
Eastgate
Hunderthwaite
Medomsley
Great Lumley
Grassholme
Wackerfield
Morton Tinmouth
Daddry Shield
Dipton
Copley
Westwick
Middridge
Castle Eden
Butterwick
Croxdale
Edmondsley
Little Newsham
Stanley Crook
Old Durham
Knitsley
Coronation
South Side
Durham
Wycliffe
Pelton
Kimblesworth
High Handenhold
Seaton
East Kyo
Wingate
Trimdon Grange
Cornforth
Tan Hills
Witton Gilbert
Frosterley
Deaf Hill
New Coundon
Murton
Gilmonby
Snaisgill
Mordon
Ushaw Moor
Sunderland Bridge
Nettlesworth
Stanhope
Old Cassop
Mainsforth
Lintzford
Shildon
Butterknowle
Woodside
Page Bank
Fishburn
Low Etherley
Woodhouses
Brandon
Langdon Beck
Haswell Plough
White Kirkley
Windlestone
Byers Green
Startforth
Ramshaw
Pickering Nook
Allensford
Ruffside
Thwaite
Laithkirk
North Close
Seaham
Bishop Auckland
Middlestone
Hunwick
Chester-le-Street
Chilton
North Bitchburn
Sacriston
Hutton Magna
Meadowfield
Station Town
Esh Winning
Mickleton
Kelton
Lanehead
Trimdon
Binchester
Waldridge
Foxton
Annfield Plain
Cold Hesledon
Tanfield Lea
Low Lands
Cotherstone
Cleatlam
Sunnybrow
West Blackdene
Howlish
Bearpark
Bournmoor
Westgate
Lintzgarth
Low Beechburn
Eldon
Green Head
Aukside
Horden
Wolsingham
Old Thornley
Phoenix Row
Grange Villa
High Escomb
East Hedleyhope
High Grange
Tursdale
Westerton
Wheatley Hill
West Auckland
Quarrington Hill
East Howle
East Hope
Quaking Houses
Monk Hesleden
Craghead
The Dene
Peterlee
Leasingthorne
Sunniside
Winston
Quebec
Stainton Grove
Romaldkirk
West Pelton
Wearhead
Ireshopeburn
Witton-le-Wear
Ferryhill
Plawsworth
Hamsterley
Holmside
Newfield
Broom Hill
Little Thorpe
Rowley
Pelton Fell
Evenwood Gate
Whorlton
Old Wingate
Witton Park
Tow Law
Hawthorn
Howden-le-Wear
Bowbank
High Westwood
Blanchland
Rushyford
High Beechburn
Hutton Henry
Town Kelloe
Spennymoor
Causey
Langley Moor
East Butsfield
Plawsworth Gate
Crawleyside
Bishop Middleham
Eldon Lane
Beamish
Waskerley
Hummerbeck
Edmondbyers
Inkerman
Barningham
Castle Dene
Forest-in-Teesdale
Thorpe
Muggleswick
Maiden Law
Cassop
No Place
West Sherburn
West Butsfield
Shincliffe
Hunstanworth
South Hetton
Barnard Castle
Burtree Ford
Holwick
Thornley
Sheraton
Egglesburn
Coundon
Low Pittington
California
East Law
Stainton
Coxhoe
Sherburn Hill
Eggleston
High Dyke
Urpeth
Brotherlee
Middle Side
Ludworth
Houghall
Alum Waters
Medomsley Edge
Staindrop
Ovington
Rookhope
Copthill
Lartington
Thringarth
Hobson
High Hesleden
Middleton-in-Teesdale
Satley
Close House
Castleside
Old Quarrington
Willington
Thinford
High Etherley
Cornsay
Burnhope
Hilton
Tanfield
Headlam
Greta Bridge
Killerby
Old Eldon
Consett
Washington
Scargill
Oakenshaw
High Urpeth
Morley
Bildershaw
Whitehill
Iveston
Toft Hill
Haswell
Easington
Malton
Shadforth
Newton Aycliffe
Elstob
Cockfield
Sedgefield
High Pittington
Bowburn
Bowes
Toronto
Todhills
White-le-Head
Crook
Killhope
Lanchester
High Lands
Kinninvie
Kirk Merrington

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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