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 Essex

Ingatestone
Roydon
Aythorpe Roding
Pedlars End
Malting Green
Man's Cross
Threshers Bush
Chipping Ongar
Great Sampford
Crow's Green
High Street Green
Toot Hill
Langham
Layer-de-la-Haye
Wethersfield
Abridge
Wendens Ambo
Passingford Bridge
Lower Green
Goldhanger
Loughton
Woodford
Handley Green
Henny Street
Mount End
Mowden
Hadstock
Little Laver
Fyfield
Mayland
Tollesbury
Sand Hill
Brookstreet
Little Braxted
Loves Green
Cole End
Hill Green
Curling Tye Green
Birch Green
Beazley End
Hatfield Broad Oak
Hobbs Cross
Leaden Roding
Bishop's Stortford
Matching Tye
Clavering
Harwich
Hornestreet
Nine Ashes
Purleigh
Crockleford Heath
Little Bardfield
Barrow Hill
Little Horkesley
Goose Green
Puttock's End
Hadleigh
Colliers Hatch
Little Burstead
Weeley
Tilbury Green
Woodhatch
Maylandsea
Mount Bures
Clacton-on-Sea
Little Wakering
Doddinghurst
Boyton End
Clay Hills
Upper Pond Street
Debden
Hawkwell
High Easter
Strethall
Quendon
Sawbridgeworth
Norton End
Steeple
Audley End
Great Saling
Chappel
Felsted
Feering
Duton Hill
Silver End
Noak Hill
Little Easton
Howlett End
Willingale
Little Tey
Bradfield Heath
Chigwell Row
Stocks Green
South Weald
South Hanningfield
Little Waltham
Magdalen Laver
Chatham Green
Butts Green
Level's Green
Hatfield Heath
Uppend
Rook End
North End
Hazel End
North Fambridge
Bradwell Wick
Mount Pleasant
Broomfield
Thundersley
Bush End
Hastingwood
Cripple Corner
Young's End
Howe Green
Foster Street
Cressing
Boyton Cross
Thorpe-le-Soken
Stebbing
South Fambridge
Ingrave
Belchamp Walter
Alresford
North Benfleet
Monk Street
Oaker Hill
Row Heath
Littlebury
Braintree
Dyer's End
Boxted Cross
Tendring
Frinton-on-Sea
Ashingdon
Tolleshunt Knights
Southend-on-Sea
Manwood Green
Southminster
Thaxted
Lamb Corner
Dedham Heath
Hamperden End
Brentwood
East Horndon
Norwood End
Danbury
Swan Street
Boxted
Gaston Green
Belchamp Otten
Little Cambridge
Hawbush Green
Haverhill
Great Oakley
School Green
Wix
Totham Hill
Steventon End
Ardleigh
Epping Green
Holder's Green
Brookend
Morris Green
Greenhill
Roydon Hamlet
Raven's Green
Rowhedge
Tiptree
Theydon Bois
Pledgdon Green
Rushley Green
Epping Upland
Bulmer
Tarpots
Almshouse Green
Beaumont
Sibley's Green
Ardleigh Heath
Battlesbridge
Broxted
Colne Engaine
Kirby Cross
Tumbler's Green
Great Hallingbury
Killem's Green
Tye Green
Chignall St James
Ramsey Island
Ugley
Broad's Green
Stickling Green
Breach Barns
Sandon
Moreton
Point Clear
Cock Clarks
Greensted Green
Little Leighs
Fingringhoe
Coalhill
Great Warley
Ridgewell
Workhouse Hill
Howe Street
Start Hill
High Ongar
Newport
St Osyth
Kelvedon Hatch
Langley
Blackcat
Great Leighs
Bradwell Waterside
Nazeing
Colchester
Pepper's Green
Rayleigh
Wickford
Hallingbury Street
Panfield
South Woodham Ferrers
Ardley End
Little London
Runwell
Little Dunmow
Tolleshunt Major
Fryerning
Beauchamp Roding
Roundbush Green
Wickham Bishops
Knowl Green
Mountnessing
High Garrett
Little Yeldham
High Laver
Stapleford Tawney
Churchend
Manuden
Bulmer Tye
Parney Heath
East Hanningfield
Parkeston
Pattiswick
Molehill Green
Stones Green
Little Hallingbury
Burnt Heath
Norton Heath
Church End
Roxwell
Bovinger
Causeway End
Steeple Bumpstead
Kelvedon
Padham's Green
Tiptree Heath
Great Waltham
The Green
Great Bentley
Fox Street
South Benfleet
Ramsden Bellhouse
Jack's Hatch
Gosfield
Craig's End
White Roding and White Roothing
North Weald Bassett
Duck End
Halstead
Rivenhall End
Woodham Mortimer
Chignall Smealy
Nounsley
Blackmore End
Halls Green
Bobbingworth
Cooper's End
Heckfordbridge
Southey Green
West Bergholt
Peldon
Grass Green
Hatfield Peverel
Maple End
Seawick
Horsley Cross
Newman's End
Bromley Cross
Rochford
St Vincent's Hamlet
Salmon's Corner
White Colne
Langford
West Hanningfield
Pleshey
Starling's Green
Whiteash Green
Marks Tey
Great Braxted
Rickling
Little Bromley
Cannon's Green
Ballards Gore
Lindsell
Clatterford End
Gallows Green
Clare
Taverners Green
Little End
Richmond's Green
Tylerscross
Langenhoe
Water End
Pebmarsh
Arkesden
High Park Corner
Birch
Woodside Green
Great Horkesley
Shelley
Coopersale
Little Baddow
Shellow Bowells
Earls Colne
Mill Green
Beacon Hill
Wicken Bonhunt
Ashdon
Broad Green
Berden
Crawley End
Gaunt's End
Wix Green
Epping
Abberton
Smythe's Green
Widdington
Barling
Great Yeldham
Rowney Corner
Navestock Side
Hellman's Cross
Gestingthorpe
Pentlow
Buckhurst Hill
Claverhambury
Thorrington
Leigh-on-Sea
Redbridge
Paglesham Eastend
Matching
Belchamp St Paul
Blackmore
Littley Green
Horseman Side
Paslow Wood Common
Cooksmill Green
St Lawrence
Dengie
Lane End
Fiddlers Hamlet
West Horndon
Manningtree
Shalford
Twinstead
Bradwell on Sea
Cherry Green and Chaureth Green
Stanbrook
Good Easter
Maldon
Navestock Common
Doddinghurst Common
Woodend
Ugley Green
Nevendon
Great Maplestead
Hawkspur Green
Purton End
Woodhill
Landermere
Little Henny
Little Sampford
Jasper's Green
Gamble's Green
Inworth
Tinkers Green
Weeley Heath
Farther Howegreen
Howegreen
Lamarsh
Lee-over-Sands
Frating Green
Elmstead Market
Burnham-on-Crouch
Ramsey
Pale Green
Theydon Garnon
Hazeleigh
Great Henny
Lower Nazeing
Woodham Ferrers
Paglesham Churchend
Broadley Common
Gainsford End
Willows Green
Lower Bobbingworth Green
Heybridge Basin
Little Canfield
Mundon
Fairstead
Housham Tye
Upshire
Coggeshall
Theydon Mount
Robinhood End
Bowers Gifford
Mallows Green
Forry's Green
Woodham Walter
Terling
Birchanger
Elsenham
Ulting
Great Bardfield
Pentlow Street
Delvin End
Takeley
Farnham Green
Thorpe Green
Stambourne
Coopersale Street
Fanner's Green
Little Chesterford
Little Bentley
New England
Keeres Green
Ost End
Barnston
Hope End Green
Little Clacton
Rudley Green
Thornwood Common
Chalk End
Messing
Coggeshall Hamlet
Nether Street
Loyter's Green
Long Green
Cold Norton
Spellbrook
South Heath
Dedham
Little Warley
Chigwell
Great Stambridge
Elder Street
Ramsden Heath
Blake End
Cowey Green
Sudbury
Rawreth
Wyatt's Green
Berners Roding
Cornish Hall End
Foxearth
Catmere End
Frating
Swallows Cross
Gransmore Green
Lower Pond Street
Farmbridge End
Farnham
Tendring Green
Fordstreet
Hardy's Green
Gubbion's Green
Little Common
Abbess Roding
Bures
Greenstead Green
Eight Ash Green
Thorpe Cross
Hullbridge
Aingers Green
Little Wigborough
Rickling Green
Henham
Layer Breton
Chrishall
Minnow End
East Gores
Little Maplestead
Debden Green
Stansted Mountfitchet
Far Thorpe Green
Castle Hedingham
Takeley Street
Fordham
Mulberry Green
Wesley End
Rotten End
Writtle
Alphamstone
Puttock End
Little Oakley
Butt's Green
Wormingford
Chelmsford
Great Chesterford
Bradwell
Tendring Heath
Sewardstone
Margaret Roding
Clapdog Green
Row Green
Wiggens Green
Harlow
Saffron Walden
Sturmer
West Mersea
Childerditch
Surrex
Stondon Massey
Ostend
Chatter End
Waltham's Cross
Bustard Green
Mistley Heath
Stisted
Sible Hedingham
Bardfield End Green
High Roding
Aldham
Countess Cross
Hornells Corner
Hempstead
Layer Marney
Great Holland
Bentley
Basildon
Stock
Stanford Rivers
Borley Green
Tillingham
Herongate
Perry Green
Sheering
Walton-on-the-Naze
Ford End
Great Wakering
Chickney
Borley
Latchingdon
Ashen
Radwinter
Downham
Bumble's Green
Great Canney
Pig Street
Tilbury Juxta Clare
Billericay
Brock Hill
Rettendon
Rivenhall
Wrabness
Mistley
Mill End
Wivenhoe
Duddenhoe End
Oxley Green
Foxash Estate
Osea Island
Lambourne
Mashbury
Hockley
Cross End
The Common
Great Notley
Waltham Forest
Smith's Green
Brandy Hole
Littlebury Green
Horsleycross Street
Tindon End
Lanham Green
Tolleshunt D'Arcy
High Beach
Flack's Green
Greensted
Daws Heath
Canvey Island
Brickkiln Green
Lambourne End
Wakes Colne
Bedlar's Green
Matching Green
Cutlers Green
Middleton
Norton Mandeville
Liston
Kirkby-le-Soken
Jaywick
Stroud Green
Little Totham
Bardfield Saling
Canewdon
Chingford
Sewards End
Edney Common
Oak Corner
Hoddesdon
Great Tey
Windmill Hill
White Notley
Boreham
Asheldham
Great Wigborough
Crow Green
Pharisee Green
Coxtie Green
Stebbing Green
Finchingfield
East Mersea
Margaretting Tye
Bannister Green
Rose Green
Margaretting
Bridge Green
Brick House End
Little Henham
Birdbrook
Stow Maries
Witham
Roundbush
Maggots End
Tilty
Copford
Shoeburyness
Further Ford End
Fuller Street
Stonebridge
Wimbish
Burton End
Beggar Hill
Bicknacre
Althorne
Stoneyhills
Gay Bowers
Wickham St Paul
Fuller's End
Crays Hill
Radwinter End
Berechurch
Sewardstonebury
Havering's Grove
Creeksea
Great Dunmow
Lawford
Aimes Green
Rayne
Great Easton
Stapleford Abbotts
Little Walden
Baythorne End
Pigstye Green
Great Bromley
Green Street
Broad Street Green
Waltham Abbey
Stambourne Green
Northend
Faulkbourne
Ovington
Toppesfield
Temple End
Rawreth Shot
St Osyth Heath
Black Notley
Salcott-cum-Virley
Brick End
Easthorpe
Hook End
Cobler's Green
Hare Street
Brightlingsea
Bacon End
Courtsend
Elmdon
Oxen End
Harrowcross
Navestock Heath
Great Totham
Hartford End

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.
site index
site map