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

CO9 4JT
CO9 4JJ
CO9 4JR
CO9 4JL
CO9 4JP
CO9 4QX
CO9 4JX
CO9 4JS
CO9 4JH
CO9 4JZ
CO9 4LN
CO9 4JY
CO9 4JG
CO9 4JN
CO9 4LW
CO9 4QT
CO9 4LA
CO9 4LH
CO9 4LJ
CO9 4LB
CO10 8LB
CO9 4LR
CO9 4LD
CO9 4JU
CO9 4QS
CO9 4JW
CO9 4JF
CO9 4LE
CO9 4HT
CO9 4QQ
CO9 4JB
CO9 4QB
CO9 4QP
CO9 4QH
CO9 4JE
CO9 4QR
CO9 4QA
CO9 4QG
CO9 4JD
CO9 4QE
CO9 4QL
CO9 4QJ
CO9 4QF
CO9 4PY
CO9 4PT
CO10 8LA
CO9 4PQ
CO9 4JA
CO9 4QW
CO9 4PX
CO9 4QD
CO9 4HX
CO9 4HZ
CO9 4HY
CO9 4HU
CO9 4QN
CO10 7DD
CO9 4RG
CO9 4PR
CO9 4PZ
CO9 4PS
CO10 7DB
CO9 4PP
CO9 4WF
CO9 4ES
CO9 4ER
CO9 4ET
CO9 4PU
CO9 4EU
CO9 4LF
CO9 4RH
CO9 4EE
CO9 4EX
CO9 4HA
CO10 8JZ
CO9 4EF
CO9 4EY
CO9 4EZ
CO10 7BZ
CO9 4HH
CO10 7DA
CO9 4JQ
CO9 4RA
CO9 4RJ
CO9 4HD
CO10 7BY
CO9 4HF
CO9 4LL
CO9 4PW
CO9 4EP
CO9 4EQ
CO10 8JY
CO10 8JX
CO9 4GE
CO9 4DN
CO9 4DP
CO9 4DL
CO9 4DH
CO9 4LG
CO9 4LQ
CO9 4HJ
CO9 4HB
CO9 4HE
CO9 4HQ
CO9 3EG
CO10 8LD
CO9 4HL
CO10 8LE
CO9 4RE
CO10 8JU
CO9 4HN
CO10 7DE
CO10 8JR
CO10 8JS
CO9 4HG
CO10 8JT
CO10 8GZ
CO9 3EE
CO10 8JW
CO10 8JP
CO9 4HW
CO10 8LH
CO9 4SE
CO10 7BX
CO9 4SA
CO9 4HP
CO9 4RL
CO9 4DT
CO9 4RB
CO9 4RZ
CO9 4SY
CO10 8JN
CO9 4SH
CO9 4RN
CO9 4RD
CO9 4SQ
CO9 4RY
CO10 7DF
CO9 4RU
CO9 4SG
CO9 4RP
CO10 7BB
CO9 4SJ
CO9 4RX
CO10 7BT
CO9 3EB
CO9 4RR
CO10 7DR
CO9 4SN
CO9 4SL
CO10 7BU
CO9 4RS
CO10 8JL
CO10 8PW
CO9 4HR
CO10 8JJ
CO9 4SW
CO9 4WE
CO9 4WB
CO10 8JH
CO10 7DG
CO10 7DP
CO10 7BS
CO9 4RQ
CO9 4SP
CO9 4RT
CO9 4SR
CO10 7BQ
CO10 7BL
CO10 7BH
CO10 7BP
CO9 3BW
CO9 4HS
CO9 4DS
CO9 4LS
CO10 8JG
CO10 7BA
CO9 4ST
CO10 7BW
CO10 8JF
CO9 4DR
CO9 4NB
CO10 8JQ
CO10 7BN
CO9 4DX
CO9 4DG
CO9 4DJ
CO10 8LF
CO10 7BG
CO9 3DZ
CO10 8JD
CO9 4DY
CO10 7BD
CO9 4DE
CO9 4DQ
CO10 7BJ
CO9 4DZ
CO10 8JE
CO9 3AH
CO10 8FF
CO10 7AZ
CO10 8JA
CO10 7DQ
CO10 8JB
CO10 8LG
CO9 4ND
CO10 8HR
CO10 8RL
CO10 7DH
CO9 3EA
CO9 4PH
CO10 8HP
CO9 4EA
CO9 3DT
CO10 8HW
CO10 8LQ
CO9 3DP
CO9 3DW
CO9 4AG
CO10 8HN
CO9 3DY
CO9 3AJ
CO9 3AQ
CO9 3BD
CO10 7DJ
CO9 3DR
CO9 3DS
CO9 3DN
CO9 3BN
CO10 8HJ
CO9 3DE
CO9 3AE
CO9 3DU
CO9 3DD
CO9 3DF
CO10 8HL
CO9 3DJ
CO9 3DX
CO10 8HG
CO9 3DH
CO9 4PG
CO9 3BE
CO9 3DB
CO10 8HE
CO9 3DG
CO10 8HT
CO9 4NP
CO10 8NT
CO9 3BZ
CO9 3BB
CO9 4EB
CO10 8HS
CO9 3DA
CO9 3ED
CO9 3DL
CO10 8HB
CO9 3BS
CO9 3DQ
CO9 4AA
CO9 4NE
CO9 3BT
CO9 3BA
CO9 3BU
CO9 3BY
CO10 7BE
CO9 3BG
CO9 3BX
CO10 8FA
CO9 3ER
CO9 3AZ
CO9 3HG
CO9 4NR
CO10 8NS
CO9 3HE
CO9 4PJ
CO10 7DL
CO9 3EJ
CO10 7DN
CO9 3LN
CO9 3EN
CO9 3EX
CO9 3EL
CO10 8NU
CO9 3EW
CO9 3ET
CO10 8LL
CO10 7DW
CO9 3LL
CO9 3HF
CO9 4LZ
CO9 3EZ
CO9 3GZ
CO9 3AX
CO10 7AY
CO10 8HH
CO9 3EY
CO10 8NX
CO9 3HW
CO9 3EU
CO9 3HA
CO9 4AQ
CO10 8FJ
CO9 3HL
CO10 8FH
CO9 3AD

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.
site index
site map