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

CO16 8JL
CO16 8JH
CO16 8JJ
CO16 8NP
CO16 8JT
CO16 8NW
CO16 8JN
CO16 8JP
CO16 8JU
CO16 8JR
CO16 8NN
CO16 8JD
CO16 8JG
CO16 8JS
CO16 8JW
CO16 8NL
CO16 8LA
CO16 8JY
CO16 8NR
CO16 8JZ
CO16 8NS
CO16 8LB
CO16 8NT
CO16 8LD
CO16 8JB
CO16 8LE
CO16 8LJ
CO16 8LH
CO16 8LG
CO16 8JE
CO16 8NJ
CO16 8LF
CO16 8LL
CO16 8LU
CO16 8JA
CO16 8LN
CO16 8LX
CO16 8ES
CO16 8LZ
CO16 8LW
CO16 8NA
CO16 8NH
CO16 8EP
CO7 0SZ
CO16 8ND
CO7 0SX
CO16 8EZ
CO7 0AR
CO7 0EL
CO7 0AU
CO7 0EJ
CO7 0AS
CO16 8EW
CO7 0BH
CO16 8GT
CO7 0AX
CO7 0EN
CO7 0AP
CO7 0EZ
CO7 0GD
CO7 0EP
CO7 0EH
CO16 8EN
CO16 8NG
CO16 8NF
CO7 0ER
CO7 0AW
CO7 0AH
CO7 0FH
CO7 0FG
CO7 0ES
CO7 0AZ
CO7 0ET
CO7 0GA
CO7 0EQ
CO7 0GZ
CO7 0AN
CO7 0GE
CO7 0HA
CO7 0AY
CO7 0GB
CO7 0BN
CO7 0EX
CO7 0BD
CO7 0HG
CO7 0EU
CO7 0DH
CO7 0EG
CO16 8EJ
CO7 0FJ
CO7 0AJ
CO7 0BB
CO7 0BW
CO7 0BA
CO7 0DG
CO7 0DJ
CO7 0BE
CO7 0AL
CO7 0PA
CO7 0BL
CO7 0DX
CO7 0AQ
CO7 0DQ
CO16 8ER
CO7 0DW
CO7 0DY
CO7 0HY
CO7 0EY
CO7 0DA
CO7 0DD
CO7 0DN
CO7 0HB
CO7 0DP
CO7 0BG
CO7 0NA
CO7 0DL
CO7 0AG
CO7 0LS
CO7 0AF
CO7 0NB
CO7 0HN
CO7 0BZ
CO7 0DZ
CO7 0NQ
CO7 0AT
CO7 0DR
CO7 0FD
CO7 0DE
CO7 0LT
CO7 0AE
CO7 0DB
CO7 0SU
CO7 0NG
CO7 0ED
CO7 0LR
CO7 0BY
CO7 0HQ
CO7 0EA
CO7 0DF
CO7 0BS
CO7 0SY
CO7 0AD
CO7 0YY
CO7 0EB
CO7 0DU
CO7 0HF
CO7 0DS
CO7 0LZ
CO7 0BX
CO7 0LP
CO7 0BU
CO7 0ND
CO7 0AB
CO7 0HJ
CO7 0HD
CO7 0LX
CO7 0BT
CO7 0BP
CO7 0NE
CO7 0PG
CO7 0PF
CO7 0NF
CO7 0LY
CO7 0FB
CO7 0EE
CO7 0BJ
CO7 0AA
CO7 8WG
CO7 8WN
CO7 8JQ
CO7 8QW
CO7 5AH
CO7 8HF
CO7 5AF
CO7 5AG
CO7 5AD
CO7 5AE
CO7 0YZ
CO7 0ZW
CO7 0XZ
CO7 0XA
CO7 0XB
CO7 0WY
CO7 0WZ
CO7 0WW
CO7 0WX
CO7 0WT
CO7 0WU
CO7 0WR
CO7 0WS
CO7 0WL
CO7 0WP
CO7 0WQ
CO7 0WN
CO7 0WH
CO7 0WJ
CO7 0WF
CO7 0WG
CO7 0WD
CO7 0WE
CO7 0WA
CO7 0WB
CO7 0SE
CO7 0QF
CO7 0QE
CO7 0LU
CO7 0HT
CO7 0DT
CO7 0HS
CO7 0NH
CO7 0JB
CO7 0PH
CO7 0HH
CO7 0NJ
CO7 0HU
CO16 8NY
CO7 0LG
CO7 0JA
CO7 0ST
CO7 0LQ
CO7 0HL
CO16 8NZ
CO7 0NL
CO7 0QB
CO7 0LW
CO7 0HE
CO7 0HP
CO16 8NX
CO7 0PJ
CO7 0HZ
CO16 8EH
CO7 0LH
CO16 8NU
CO7 0JD
CO16 8QW
CO7 0GY
CO7 0HW
CO7 0HR
CO7 0EW
CO7 0EF
CO7 0BQ
CO7 0TD
CO7 0QY
CO7 0PY
CO7 0NN
CO7 0PN
CO7 0NT
CO7 0JX
CO16 8RH
CO7 0SS
CO16 8RN
CO7 0PL
CO16 8RJ
CO16 8RW
CO16 8RP
CO16 8RL
CO7 0NS
CO16 8RT
CO16 8RR
CO16 8HA
CO7 0NP
CO7 0PE
CO16 8PA
CO7 0SR
CO7 0SH
CO16 8QZ
CO7 0NW
CO16 8RS
CO7 0LF
CO7 0JS
CO7 0NX
CO7 0JT
CO7 0NU
CO7 0JR
CO7 0PW
CO7 0PZ
CO7 0JP
CO16 8TE
CO7 0NR
CO16 8RU
CO7 0QA
CO7 0LE
CO16 8PN
CO16 8QY
CO16 8RA
CO16 8HB
CO7 0LJ
CO7 0UL
CO7 0JE
CO7 0JW
CO16 8RF
CO7 0PP
CO16 8RY
CO7 0NY
CO16 8PG
CO7 0UZ
CO16 8PD
CO7 0SJ
CO7 0JU
CO16 8PB
CO7 0JL
CO7 0JJ
CO7 0NZ
CO7 0PX
CO7 0JN
CO7 0PU
CO16 8QX
CO16 8WT
CO16 8WZ
CO7 0LD
CO16 8QS
CO16 8RE
CO7 0LB
CO7 0UH
CO7 0PQ
CO16 8RX
CO7 0PB
CO7 0PT
CO7 0JZ
CO16 8HS
CO16 8RD
CO7 0JH
CO7 0JF
CO16 8RB
CO7 0PD
CO7 0UD
CO16 8QT
CO16 8PL
CO7 0UA
CO16 8RQ
CO7 0JY
CO16 8HD
CO16 8EU
CO7 0JG
CO16 8ET
CO16 8PW
CO7 0QQ
CO16 8PZ
CO7 0PS
CO16 8PQ
CO16 8PE
CO16 8QU
CO7 0SL
CO16 8TD
CO7 0PR
CO16 8QP
CO16 8AF
CO16 8QN
CO16 8PY
CO7 0LN
CO7 0UB
CO7 0LA
CO7 0SP
CO7 0QG
CO16 8PF
CO16 8QR
CO16 8SB
CO7 0LL
CO7 0SW
CO16 8RZ
CO16 8RG
CO7 0RX
CO16 8QG
CO7 0HX
CO16 8PH
CO7 0JQ
CO16 8EX
CO7 0RU
CO16 8PJ
CO7 0FA
CO7 0RY
CO7 0QS
CO16 8QH
CO7 0SN
CO7 0QH
CO16 8QJ
CO16 8QQ
CO7 0TB
CO7 0RT
CO16 8PP
CO7 0RS
CO7 0TA
CO7 0QR
CO16 8QL
CO16 8QE
CO7 0SG
CO16 8QF
CO7 0SQ
CO16 8HN
CO16 8HW
CO7 0RW
CO7 0RP
CO16 8PR
CO7 0QN
CO7 0QW
CO7 0SF
CO16 8QB
CO16 8PS
CO7 0QJ
CO16 8HR
CO16 8PT
CO7 0QL
CO16 8PX
CO16 8SD
CO16 8QD
CO7 0QP
CO16 8PU
CO16 8QA
CO7 0RQ
CO7 8RE
CO5 8US
CO7 0RG
CO7 0RN
CO7 0QD
CO7 0QT
CO7 0RR
CO5 8WD
CO5 8UW
CO5 8WE
CO7 0SD
CO7 0RH
CO7 0RJ
CO16 8TA
CO7 0RE
CO16 8SA
CO7 8RF
CO7 0RL
CO16 8HQ
CO16 8SZ
CO7 0QU
CO16 8ST
CO16 8SU
CO7 8RG
CO7 8ER
CO16 8SR
CO7 0RD
CO5 8UE
CO16 8SS
CO16 8SX
CO7 0RB
CO16 8HG
CO7 0QX
CO16 8SL
CO16 8SH
CO5 8UN
CO16 8SJ
CO16 8SG
CO7 0RA
CO16 8HL
CO16 8SP
CO7 0QZ
CO16 8SN
CO16 8SW
CO16 8SE
CO7 8RQ
CO7 8HD
CO7 8RJ
CO16 8HE
CO7 8RH
CO16 8HF
CO5 8UJ
CO7 8RL
CO16 8TB
CO5 8UB
CO7 0RZ
CO5 8UA
CO5 8FE
CO7 8RN
CO16 8YY
CO16 8NQ
CO16 8HT
CO16 8JX
CO16 8TS
CO16 8FF
CO16 8TF
CO16 8JF
CO16 8BS
CO16 8HJ
CO7 8HB
CO7 0SA
CO5 8TR
CO7 8RW
CO5 8TP
CO15 2DL
CO15 2LF
CO7 8JL
CO5 8TU
CO5 8TY
CO7 8HA
CO15 2LE
CO15 2GE
CO15 2LN
CO15 2LJ
CO15 2LL
CO15 2LG
CO16 8BN
CO15 2LH
CO15 2LP
CO7 8JJ
CO16 8BP
CO15 2LW
CO15 2GD
CO7 8RD
CO15 2LR
CO15 2LQ
CO15 2GA
CO7 8EZ
CO15 2LS
CO16 8HH
CO15 2LT
CO15 2LX
CO7 8RP
CO15 2LD
CO15 2LB
CO15 2JZ
CO15 2LA
CO16 8BL
CO7 8ET
CO16 8AE
CO15 2JY
CO15 2JX
CO15 2JS
CO7 0SB
CO7 8EX
CO7 8EY
CO15 2QW
CO15 2JU
CO15 2NY
CO15 2JT
CO15 2QU
CO15 2JR
CO15 2JP
CO15 2NU
CO15 2QS
CO15 2QR
CO16 8BJ
CO5 8TJ
CO15 2LY
CO15 2QT
CO15 2NX
CO15 2LZ
CO7 8EU
CO15 2JW
CO15 2JN
CO7 8HE
CO15 2NT
CO7 8JW
CO7 8JP
CO15 2JL
CO5 8TN
CO15 2PE
CO15 2QJ
CO15 2QH
CO15 2QX

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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