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 2PL
CO9 2PH
CO9 2PJ
CO9 2PN
CO9 2PW
CO9 2PP
CO9 2PR
CO9 2PT
CO9 2PF
CO9 2PU
CO9 2PG
CO9 2PS
CO9 2PX
CO9 3AS
CO9 3AR
CO9 3AT
CO10 7EF
CO10 7EG
CO9 3AP
CO9 3AB
CO10 7NF
CO9 3AU
CO9 2PE
CO10 7NE
CO10 7NG
CO9 3AX
CO10 7NB
CO9 2SN
CO9 3AZ
CO9 2SE
CO9 2SD
CO9 2SQ
CO9 3BA
CO9 2PD
CO10 7ET
CO9 3BH
CO9 3BQ
CO10 7ND
CO9 2SG
CO9 3BL
CO9 3BJ
CO9 2SH
CO9 3BB
CO10 7EE
CO9 3BG
CO9 2PB
CO9 2RN
CO9 2SJ
CO9 3BE
CO10 7ED
CO9 3AE
CO9 3BN
CO9 2SL
CO9 2QA
CO9 2RU
CO9 2RY
CO9 3BD
CO9 3AD
CO10 7EQ
CO9 2FJ
CO9 2RL
CO10 7EB
CO10 7NA
CO9 2RE
CO9 2QB
CO10 7ES
CO9 2RZ
CO9 2SA
CO10 7NQ
CO9 2SB
CO10 7DZ
CO10 7NH
CO9 2RW
CO9 2RG
CO10 7EJ
CO10 7EH
CO9 2RQ
CO9 2PA
CO9 2RD
CO9 2QD
CO10 7AY
CO9 2RH
CO9 2RB
CO10 7EA
CO9 2RJ
CO9 2NX
CO9 2RS
CO10 7NJ
CO10 7ER
CO10 7EP
CO9 2AW
CO9 2QZ
CO10 7TH
CO9 2RA
CO9 3BW
CO9 2NZ
CO9 2NE
CO9 3EF
CO10 7TD
CO10 7EW
CO10 7NN
CO9 2QX
CO10 7EL
CO10 7DY
CO10 7NL
CO10 7TB
CO9 2NG
CO10 7AZ
CO9 3AG
CO9 2LZ
CO10 7AX
CO10 7LZ
CO9 2QU
CO9 2NY
CO10 7DT
CO10 7DS
CO9 2RT
CO10 7AU
CO10 7AS
CO10 7NW
CO9 3AJ
CO10 7AR
CO10 7DX
CO9 2NB
CO10 7EN
CO10 7TA
CO10 7AT
CO9 2FG
CO9 2NH
CO10 7BB
CO9 2NA
CO9 2FE
CO9 2LY
CO9 3AQ
CO9 2NU
CO9 2NN
CO10 7PD
CO10 7NP
CO9 2NT
CO9 2NW
CO9 2QS
CO9 2NS
CO9 3AH
CO9 2QT
CO9 3DJ
CO9 2NL
CO8 5HL
CO9 3HL
CO9 3HG
CO10 7LX
CO9 3HH
CO9 2LX
CO9 2QR
CO9 3DQ
CO8 5HN
CO9 3EW
CO10 7BA
CO9 3HN
CO9 3DL
CO10 7LY
CO9 3HE
CO9 3DG
CO9 3BX
CO9 3EN
CO9 3BU
CO10 7BD
CO9 3HF
CO9 3EU
CO9 3HJ
CO9 3BT
CO9 3BY
CO9 3EJ
CO9 3DH
CO9 3BS
CO10 7EU
CO9 2NJ
CO9 2QE
CO9 3ER
CO9 3EX
CO10 7AP
CO9 3DF
CO9 3DE
CO9 3BZ
CO9 3EL
CO9 2QP
CO9 4LQ
CO9 3DD
CO9 3ET
CO9 3DB
CO9 4LG
CO9 3DA
CO10 7LR
CO9 3EG
CO9 3EZ
CO9 3EY
CO10 7EY
CO9 3HB
CO9 2RR
CO9 3EE
CO9 3ED
CO10 7LH
CO9 3DN
CO9 3GZ
CO9 3DT
CO9 3DU
CO9 3HA
CO8 5HH
CO9 3HW
CO10 7FA
CO8 5HJ
CO9 2NR
CO10 7LU
CO9 3AA
CO10 7GY
CO9 3DW
CO10 7EX
CO9 3DS
CO10 7LW
CO10 7HL
CO8 5HG
CO8 5HP
CO9 2QW
CO9 3EA
CO8 5HF
CO9 3HZ
CO10 7HQ
CO8 5HQ
CO10 7PG
CO10 7AW
CO10 6DX

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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