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

CB11 4HN
CB11 4HS
CB11 4HU
CB11 4HJ
CB11 4HB
CB11 4EX
CB11 4EU
CB11 4EZ
CB11 4FY
CB11 4HE
CB11 4EY
CB11 4HA
CB11 4HD
CB11 4HF
CB11 4HH
CB11 4HG
CB11 4HQ
CB11 4QU
CB10 4QZ
CB11 4FZ
CB11 4WG
CB11 4WA
CB11 4QZ
CB11 4QT
CB11 3UN
CB11 4QX
CB11 4RN
CB11 3UL
CB11 3UJ
CB11 3UH
CB11 4QS
CB11 3UR
CB11 3UQ
CB11 4RL
CB11 4UX
CB11 3UG
CB11 4UL
CB11 3UF
CB11 4RW
CB11 4RP
CB11 4RS
CB11 4RR
CB11 4UY
CB11 4QR
CB11 4QY
CB11 4XS
CB11 4XT
CB11 4YB
CB11 4QN
CB11 4QL
CB11 4QW
CB11 4QP
CB11 4SJ
CB11 4QD
CB11 4QE
CB11 4QB
CB11 4RT
CB11 4SQ
CB11 4XA
CB11 4PF
CB11 4UJ
CB11 4PH
CB11 4UU
CB11 4PJ
CB11 4PQ
CB11 4PZ
CB11 4PL
CB11 4UZ
CB11 4PE
CB11 4PX
CB11 4PY
CB11 4SN
CB11 4SH
CB11 4US
CB11 4FB
CB11 4PN
CB11 4FU
CB11 3UE
CB11 4PB
CB11 4ES
CB11 4XN
CB11 4UT
CB11 4UR
CB11 4RX
CB11 4JU
CB11 4JT
CB11 4XW
CB11 4RU
CB11 4SL
CB11 3YL
CB11 4FF
CB11 4RY
CB11 4PW
CB11 4JY
CB11 3QQ
CB11 3UB
CB11 4JS
CB11 3QH
CB11 4UW
CB11 3UD
CB11 3UA
CB11 4SD
CB11 4SG
CB11 4JZ
CB11 3DD
CB11 3QU
CB11 4XD
CB11 4PG
CB11 3UW
CB11 3PY
CB11 3TZ
CB11 4PU
CB11 4RZ
CB11 3QF
CB11 3RR
CB11 3QL
CB11 3QT
CB11 3RH
CB11 4YE
CB11 3PU
CB11 3QA
CB11 4UP
CB11 3RP
CB11 3PX
CB11 3TW
CB11 3TP
CB11 4JX
CB11 3PZ
CB11 3QE
CB11 4YH
CB11 4GQ
CB11 3QN
CB11 3QB
CB11 4SW
CB11 3RJ
CB11 3TA
CB11 3RS
CB11 3QW
CB11 4LN
CB11 3TS
CB11 4GB
CB11 3QS
CB11 4LQ
CB11 3TQ
CB11 3TN
CB11 4YS
CB11 4YT
CB11 4YX
CB11 4YY
CB11 4YN
CB11 4YA
CB11 4YD
CB11 4HR
CB11 4FJ
CB11 4BF
CB11 4FP
CB11 4FH
CB11 4FT
CB11 4XE
CB11 4XB
CB11 3ZA
CB11 4JR
CB11 3RE
CB11 3QD
CB11 3QG
CB11 4YP
CB11 4YG
CB11 4HL
CB11 4HW
CB11 4PR
CB11 3QR
CB11 4LG
CB11 3PJ
CB11 4LA
CB11 3QP
CB11 4PP
CB11 3TR
CB11 4LD
CB11 3RQ
CB11 3RD
CB11 3HZ
CB11 3RA
CB11 3PB
CB11 3PT
CB11 4LB
CB11 3TH
CB11 3TL
CB11 3QJ
CB11 3PH
CB11 3PQ
CB11 3RF
CB11 3RB
CB11 3PF
CB11 3TJ
CB11 3QX
CB11 3ZN
CB11 3ZX
CB11 3WR
CB11 3QZ
CB11 3PG
CB11 3PS
CB11 3RG
CB11 3TT
CB11 3QY
CB11 3PR
CB11 3TY
CB11 3PE
CB11 3PA
CB11 3RT
CB11 3PN
CB11 3PL
CB11 3PW
CB11 3RW
CB11 4JL
CB11 3PP
CB11 3RN
CB11 4LE
CB11 4PS
CB11 4SA
CB11 4JW
CB11 4XF
CB11 3BQ
CB11 4JN
CB11 4JP
CB11 3RX
CB11 3XN
CB11 4SB
SG8 8RA
CM23 1AD
SG9 0AY
CB11 3TU
CB11 4SF
CM23 1AG
CB11 4PT
CB11 3RU
CB11 4UN
SG9 0AX
CB11 3SY
CM23 1AB
CB11 3TX
CB11 4JH
CB11 3YJ
CM23 1AW
SG9 0AZ
CB11 4XQ
CB11 3UX
CB11 3NE
CB11 3FR
CB11 3XU
CB11 3UU
CB11 3PD
CB11 3NH
CB11 3GE
CB11 3FT
CB11 3FQ
CB11 3FN
CB11 3FL
CB11 3FJ
CB11 3BY
CB11 3FG
CM23 1AR
CM23 1AF
CB11 3YH
CM23 1AE
CB11 4JJ
CB11 3SX
CB11 3XW
CM23 1AP
CM23 1AH
CM23 1AS
CB11 4SE
CM23 1AN
CM23 1AJ
CM23 1AX
SG8 8RD
CM23 1AT
CM23 1BE
CB11 4NW
CM23 1BX

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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