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 2FF
CM6 2JT
CM6 2LZ
CM6 2PP
CM6 2JZ
CM6 2JX
CM6 2QN
CM6 2PN
CM6 2JY
CM6 2PW
CM6 2LE
CM6 2LX
CM6 2LF
CM6 2PE
CM6 2RL
CM6 2FP
CM6 2QQ
CM6 2QH
CM6 2RP
CM6 2PJ
CM6 2PR
CM6 2LA
CM6 2RJ
CM6 2QP
CM6 2QW
CM6 2FA
CM6 2PF
CM6 2FN
CM6 2LG
CM6 2PU
CM6 2LQ
CM6 2LB
CM6 2QR
CM6 2LD
CM6 2PX
CM6 2LL
CM6 2QT
CM6 2PS
CM6 2PG
CM6 2QS
CM6 2PL
CM6 2PT
CM6 2QU
CM6 2PH
CM6 2QX
CM6 2PQ
CM6 2RS
CM6 2LT
CM6 2LH
CM6 2PA
CM6 2RU
CM6 2RN
CM6 2LJ
CM6 2NF
CM6 2EZ
CM6 2ND
CM6 2QY
CM6 2QZ
CM6 2PY
CM6 2LY
CM6 2NB
CM6 2FQ
CM6 2LW
CM6 2FE
CM6 2NE
CM6 2FJ
CM6 2FH
CM6 2RE
CM6 2LP
CM6 2NA
CM6 2QJ
CM6 2LU
CM6 2LS
CM6 2RA
CM6 2UY
CM6 2FL
CM6 2JU
CM6 2LN
CM6 2LR
CM6 2QG
CM6 3QD
CM6 3PU
CM6 2RB
CM6 2RF
CM6 2NG
CM6 2NQ
CM6 2RD
CM6 2PZ
CM6 3PY
CM6 2NL
CM6 2NJ
CM6 2RG
CM6 2QF
CM6 3PX
CM6 3PZ
CM6 2QD
CM6 3QE
CM6 2QA
CM6 2RQ
CB10 2XS
CB10 2SA
CM6 2NH
CM6 2NP
CM6 2NR
CM6 2NW
CM6 2QE
CM6 2RH
CM6 2NT
CM6 3QF
CB10 2XT
CM6 2QB
CM6 2NU
CM6 2NS
CM6 3QB
CB10 2XU
CB10 2QJ
CM6 3QY
CM6 3QA
CB10 2QH
CM6 2NN
CB10 2XR
CB11 3LY
CB10 2XP
CM6 3QH
CB11 3LX
CM6 2NX
CM6 2NY
CM6 2NZ
CM6 2QL
CM6 2EF
CM6 2FB
CM6 3QQ
CM6 3QG
CM7 4TX
CB11 3LU
CM6 2DB
CM6 2DU
CM6 2EE
CB11 3LZ
CB10 2XH
CB10 2RX
CB10 2QQ
CM6 3QJ
CB10 2RY
CM7 4TU
CM6 2ED
CM7 4TY
CB10 2XX
CB10 2QG
CM6 2DD
CB10 2XB
CM6 3QU
CB10 2RZ
CM6 3PW
CM6 3QL
CB11 3LT
CB10 2QF
CB10 2XW
CB10 2XN
CM6 2DE
CM6 3QN
CM6 2DY
CM6 2DZ
CB10 2XJ
CM6 3PT
CB10 2XL
CM6 2DT
CB11 3NA
CM6 3QS
CM6 2DX
CM7 4UB
CM7 4TZ
CM6 2EB
CB10 2XQ
CB10 2RU
CM6 2DA
CM6 2RT
CM6 2SH
CM6 2GZ
CM6 2EX
CM6 2DF
CM7 4TT
CM6 2EA
CM6 3QP
CM6 2DG
CM6 3QT
CM7 4SH
CB11 3LS
CM7 4TS
CB10 2TF
CB10 2QB
CB10 2QD
CB10 2XD
CM7 4TP
CB10 2FW
CM7 4TR
CM6 2EH
CB10 2FN
CB10 2XF
CB10 2QE
CB10 2QL
CB10 2UZ
CB11 3NB
CB10 2XE
CM6 3QW
CM6 2EG
CM6 2DS
CM22 6FH
CM7 4SQ
CM6 2BY
CM6 2BZ
CM6 2EQ
CB10 2RT

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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