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

CM6 1PX
CM6 1PS
CM6 1PT
CM6 1PY
CM6 1PR
CM6 1PU
CM6 1PP
CM6 1AN
CM6 1PQ
CM6 1RZ
CM6 1PF
CM6 1PD
CM6 1YS
CM6 1PG
CM6 1PZ
CM6 1QA
CM6 1PB
CM6 1QD
CM6 1WE
CM6 1SD
CM6 1SB
CM6 1QB
CM6 1QE
CM6 1RY
CM6 1TR
CM6 1QX
CM6 1RX
CM6 1RA
CM6 1SE
CM6 1QF
CM6 1QG
CM6 1GY
CM6 1TT
CM6 1PA
CM6 1GG
CM6 1RB
CM6 1WG
CM6 1GF
CM6 1QZ
CM6 1QH
CM6 1PE
CM6 1RD
CM6 1QQ
CM1 4RD
CM6 1NU
CM6 1RU
CM6 1QJ
CM6 1NT
CM6 1RE
CM6 1NZ
CM6 1NS
CM6 1NY
CM6 1YH
CM6 1NX
CM6 1NR
CM22 7JT
CM6 1NP
CM22 7JY
CM1 4PZ
CM1 4FR
CM6 1NW
CM1 4QL
CM6 1QL
CM1 4QN
CM1 4QP
CM6 1RF
CM6 1NN
CM1 4QW
CM5 0JT
CM6 1JX
CM6 1NJ
CM6 1JT
CM5 0JZ
CM6 1RS
CM1 4QS
CM6 1NH
CM1 4RW
CM6 1RT
CM1 4QJ
CM6 1RJ
CM6 1RW
CM5 0JS
CM6 1RR
CM1 4QZ
CM6 1RN
CM6 1JR
CM6 1RL
CM1 4PY
CM6 1NQ
CM6 1JZ
CM1 4RA
CM1 4QR
CM6 1NL
CM1 4QT
CM6 1RG
CM22 7JS
CM5 0JN
CM5 0JW
CM6 1QN
CM6 1QU
CM6 1QW
CM1 4QQ
CM6 1QT
CM6 1LA
CM1 4QA
CM1 4RE
CM1 4QH
CM5 0JU
CM1 4RB
CM6 1QP
CM5 0JX
CM22 7JU
CM6 1JU
CM1 4QU
CM22 7JX
CM6 1QR
CM6 1JS
CM6 1RQ
CM6 1JW
CM5 0PA
CM1 4QB
CM22 7BA
CM5 0NY
CM6 1RH
CM6 1LD
CM22 7JR
CM5 0NZ
CM22 7JW
CM6 1LB
CM6 1RP
CM5 0NX
CM5 0PB
CM1 4PX
CM5 0JP
CM22 7JN
CM1 4QE
CM22 7JP
CM1 4RT
CM22 7HY
CM1 4QX
CM1 4SL
CM1 4RN
CM1 4RS
CM6 1LE
CM1 4RR
CM1 4RP
CM22 7JZ
CM22 7JA
CM22 7AY
CM1 4SJ
CM1 4RL
CM5 0PE
CM6 1JJ
CM1 4SH
CM22 7JD
CM22 7JB
CM1 4PU
CM22 7JE
CM22 7HX
CM6 1QS
CM22 7JG
CM22 7JF
CM5 0PD
CM1 4RU
CM22 7HJ
CM22 7JJ
CM22 7JQ
CM22 7JH
CM1 4PL
CM1 4PN
CM22 7AU
CM22 7HH
CM22 7HU
CM6 1JP
CM22 7HP
CM22 7AX
CM1 4PP
CM1 4QY
CM22 7QQ
CM22 7LA
CM1 4PT
CM22 7HW
CM22 7BB
CM22 7HQ
CM22 7LQ
CM22 7HG
CM22 7HT
CM22 7HN
CM3 1HT
CM22 7HL
CM22 7GD
CM5 0PF
CM22 7JL
CM1 4PR
CM22 7HF
CM1 4RX
CM22 7HS
CM22 7HR
CM22 7HZ
CM22 7HD
CM22 7HE
CM3 1HS
CM3 1HR
CM6 1NF
CM22 7LE
CM22 7DB
CM22 7HB
CM5 0PG
CM6 1TE
CM3 1HU

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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