MOTCheck.net | MOT Test Centre near Essex

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

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

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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