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

CM9 8HS
CM9 8HJ
CM9 8HN
CM9 8HH
CM9 8HL
CM9 8HQ
CM9 8HP
CM9 8HW
CM9 8FE
CM9 8HG
CM9 8HR
CO5 7RU
CM9 8RZ
CM9 8HX
CO5 7RT
CM9 8HF
CO5 7RZ
CO5 7RS
CM9 8TP
CM9 8TJ
CM9 8TY
CO5 7RY
CM9 8HE
CM9 8TN
CM9 8TW
CM9 8TH
CO5 7SB
CO5 7WQ
CM9 8TQ
CM9 8TL
CO5 7RR
CO5 7SA
CM9 8TF
CM9 8TG
CM9 8UD
CO5 7RJ
CM9 8HU
CM9 8TE
CM9 8UA
CM9 8TR
CO5 7RH
CM9 8UE
CM9 8UB
CM9 8SJ
CM9 8HD
CM9 8UG
CO5 7RP
CM9 8EL
CO5 7RN
CM9 8TS
CO5 7RL
CM9 8EZ
CM9 8ER
CM9 8RH
CM9 8TX
CM9 8UF
CM9 8FH
CM9 8TT
CM9 8TU
CM9 8RR
CM9 8RD
CM9 8EP
CM9 8SY
CM9 8EY
CM9 8HY
CM9 8HZ
CM9 8RB
CM9 8SZ
CM9 8RF
CM9 8AE
CM9 8TA
CM9 8EN
CM9 8SG
CM9 8RQ
CM9 8SL
CM9 8QY
CM9 8RP
CM9 8EW
CM9 8QX
CM9 8HA
CM9 8XA
CM9 8RE
CM9 8RA
CM9 8SH
CM9 8QZ
CM9 8SF
CM9 8RS
CM9 8HB
CM9 8RJ
CM9 8QU
CM9 8SQ
CM9 8QQ
CO5 7RE
CM9 8WZ
CM9 8XS
CM9 8XT
CM9 8GG
CM9 8YW
CM9 8QH
CM9 8FG
CM9 8RL
CM9 8XB
CM9 8RG
CM9 8QR
CM9 8QD
CM9 8QG
CM9 8AA
CM9 8QF
CM9 8QJ
CM9 8QE
CM9 8ET
CM9 8QN
CM9 8HT
CM9 8SA
CM9 8EJ
CM9 8QS
CM9 8SB
CO2 0PU
CO5 7RW
CM9 8SD
CM9 8TZ
CM9 8QW
CM9 8RT
CM9 8XD
CM9 8TD
CM9 8EX
CM9 8RY
CM9 8RN
CM9 8QP
CM9 8SE
CM9 8EU
CO2 0PF
CO2 0PL
CM9 8SN
CM9 8XH
CM9 8XX
CM9 8ES
CO5 7RD
CM9 8SW
CM9 8TB
CO5 7RB
CM9 8SP
CM9 8XQ
CM9 8WD
CM9 8XG
CM9 8QL
CM9 8WB
CM9 8AF
CM9 8SU
CO5 0RU
CM9 8FB
CO5 9UL
CM9 8SX
CO5 0RN
CM9 8SR
CO5 0RT
CM9 8AG
CO5 0RJ
CM9 8ST
CO5 9UX
CM9 8XR
CM9 8XP
CO5 0RR
CO2 0PX
CO2 0PT
CO5 9UT
CO5 0RL
CO2 0EU
CO5 0RH
CM9 8SS
CO2 0PS
CO5 0RP
CO2 0PZ
CO5 0RY
CM9 8AB
CM9 8AD
CO5 7RA
CO5 9UJ
CM9 8WE
CM9 8UX
CM9 8XE
CM9 8WH
CM9 8WQ
CM9 8UY
CM9 8QT
CM9 8UW
CM9 8UP
CM9 8FY
CO5 9US
CO2 0PR
CO5 0RX
CO5 0RQ
CO5 0JA
CM9 8LP
CM9 8EQ
CM9 8EG
CO5 0SA
CO2 0PY
CO2 0YF
CO5 0SB
CO5 9UH
CO5 0GW
CO5 0HZ
CO2 0PP
CM9 8EH
CO5 0SD
CO5 0SG
CO5 9XU
CO5 7PS
CO5 9UP
CO5 0HX
CO5 0GZ
CO5 7PR
CO5 9UQ
CO5 0JR
CO5 9UR
CO5 0JS
CO5 9UZ
CO5 7PP
CM9 8LW
CO5 0HT
CO2 0PW
CO5 0HS
CO5 0JB
CO5 0SJ

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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