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

CO5 8SR
CO5 8JW
CO5 8TF
CO5 8PF
CO5 8PQ
CO5 8TW
CO5 8TZ
CO5 8RB
CO5 8DW
CO5 8NZ
CO5 8PJ
CO5 8XS
CO5 8GD
CO5 8GB
CO5 8RD
CO5 8RE
CO5 8SQ
CO5 8HS
CO5 8RA
CO5 8BB
CO5 8GY
CO5 8BQ
CO5 8EA
CO5 8BJ
CO5 8DQ
CO5 8RG
CO5 8RQ
CO5 8EB
CO5 8BU
CO5 8PP
CO5 8GP
CO5 8RH
CO5 8QQ
CO5 8BA
CO5 8EW
CO5 8QX
CO5 8DX
CO5 8YZ
CO5 8PW
CO5 8YD
CO5 8YE
CO5 8NP
CO5 8XZ
CO5 8XW
CO5 8NB
CO5 8XU
CO5 8XT
CO5 8XQ
CO5 8XN
CO5 8XP
CO5 8LW
CO5 8XJ
CO5 8XL
CO5 8XG
CO5 8XH
CO5 8XF
CO5 8GX
CO5 8XE
CO5 8WZ
CO5 8XD
CO5 8WU
CO5 8WX
CO5 8WY
CO5 8WW
CO5 8GT
CO5 8HY
CO5 8WT
CO5 8WS
CO5 8WQ
CO5 8WR
CO5 8GR
CO5 8WN
CO5 8WP
CO5 8WJ
CO5 8WL
CO5 8WH
CO5 8WG
CO5 8FF
CO5 8WF
CO5 8WB
CO5 8FS
CO5 8FT
CO5 8GA
CO5 8WA
CO5 8UZ
CO5 8UX
CO5 8UY
CO5 8UP
CO5 8UT
CO5 8UU
CO5 8UR
CO5 8TT
CO5 8UH
CO5 8UL
CO5 8TX
CO5 8FD
CO5 8TS
CO5 8ST
CO5 8SW
CO5 8SF
CO5 8DF
CO5 8ED
CO5 8UG
CO5 8QZ
CO5 8PL
CO5 8QU
CO5 8DT
CO5 8RF
CO5 8DP
CO5 8AF
CO5 8TH
CO5 8BE
CO5 8TL
CO5 8PR
CO5 8DJ
CO5 8EL
CO5 8RJ
CO5 8GE
CO5 8RY
CO5 8JA
CO5 8AX
CO5 8EE
CO5 8AN
CO5 8RT
CO5 8EY
CO5 8DR
CO5 8PS
CO5 8QR
CO5 8EP
CO5 8RN
CO5 8DL
CO5 8DH
CO5 8DS
CO5 8EN
CO5 8DY
CO5 8QT
CO5 8LZ
CO5 8AJ
CO5 8EG
CO5 8AZ
CO5 8EF
CO5 8RR
CO5 8ET
CO5 8EJ
CO5 8HZ
CO5 8DN
CO5 8EH
CO5 8EQ
CO5 8PT
CO5 8EX
CO5 8DG
CO5 8RW
CO5 8AP
CO5 8RL
CO5 8BD
CO5 8RX
CO5 8AL
CO5 8RZ
CO5 8AH
CO5 8BN
CO5 8AW
CO5 8QY
CO5 8AY
CO5 8DU
CO5 8JX
CO5 8EU
CO5 8RP
CO5 8JT
CO5 8UQ
CO5 8HU
CO5 8AU
CO5 8JJ
CO5 8RS
CO5 8JG
CO5 8JB
CO5 8QW
CO5 8AR
CO5 8ER
CO5 8HA
CO5 8JU
CO5 8AG
CO5 8AS
CO5 8JY
CO5 8AE
CO5 8BW
CO5 8JQ
CO5 8JD
CO5 8EZ
CO5 8JZ
CO5 8JH
CO5 8GW
CO5 8AQ
CO5 8DZ
CO5 8GS
CO5 8JE
CO5 8BG
CO5 8PZ
CO5 8AA
CO5 8XA
CO5 8AT
CO5 8HB
CO5 8GG
CO5 8DD
CO5 8ES
CO5 8JF
CO5 8DB
CO5 8BL
CO5 8PX
CO5 8FA
CO5 8HT
CO5 8LR
CO5 8LA
CO5 8JS
CO5 8GF
CO5 8GH
CO5 8BH
CO5 8HE
CO5 8QB
CO5 8QA
CO5 8HX
CO5 8LB
CO5 8QN
CO5 8QS
CO5 8HD
CO5 8AD
CO5 8AB
CO5 8HF
CO5 8JL
CO5 8BT
CO5 8QG
CO5 8SD
CO5 8GZ
CO5 8QD
CO5 8UF
CO5 8LE
CO5 8QL
CO5 8XB
CO5 8PU
CO5 8GJ
CO5 8PY
CO5 8HG
CO5 8GQ
CO5 8BY
CO5 8QP
CO5 8QJ
CO5 8LD
CO5 8GN
CO5 8QH
CO5 8UD
CO5 8LF
CO5 8HH
CO5 8PN
CO5 8XR
CO5 8YQ
CO5 8YB
CO5 8BS
CO5 8BP
CO5 8QE
CO5 8QF
CO5 8JR
CO5 8HR
CO5 8HQ
CO5 8RU
CO5 8HP
CO5 8LN
CO5 8LP
CO5 8BZ
CO5 8LL
CO5 8HJ
CO5 8JN
CO5 8BX
CO5 8LH
CO5 8DE
CO5 8HN
CO5 8JP
CO5 8LJ
CO5 8PH
CO5 8HW
CO5 8HL
CO5 8NL
CO5 8LY
CO5 8DA
CO5 8NH
CO5 8LQ
CO5 8LG
CO5 8SA
CO5 8LU
CO5 8NJ
CO5 8NW
CO5 8NN
CO5 8GL
CO5 8NR
CO5 8NQ
CO5 8LS
CO5 8LT
CO5 8NG
CO5 8LX
CO5 8NS
CO5 8NT
CO5 8SN
CO5 8NF
CO5 8NE
CO5 8NU
CO5 8NY
CO5 8ND
CO5 8NX
CO5 8PG
CO5 8PA
CO5 8PE
CO5 8PB
CO5 8PD
CO5 8NA
CO5 8SB
CO5 8SG
CO5 8SL
CO5 8SJ
CO5 8SP
CO5 8SE
CO5 8SH
CO5 8SY
CO5 8SU
CO5 8SS
CO5 8SX
CO5 8SZ
CO5 7QL
CO5 8TB
CO5 8TA
CO5 7QS
CO5 7QJ
CO5 8TE
CO5 8TD
CO5 7QG
CO5 8TG
CO5 8TQ
CO5 7QP
CO5 8TN
CO5 8TJ
CO5 7RD
CO5 7QE
CO5 7QF
CO5 7PP
CO5 7QR
CO5 7QH
CO5 7LN
CO5 7PR
CM0 7JB
CO5 8TY
CO5 8TU
CO5 8TP
CM0 7HP
CO5 7LW
CO5 7QD
CO5 7RA
CO5 7PS
CO5 7RB
CO5 8TR
CO5 7NA
CO5 7PT
CO5 8FE
CO5 7RE
CO5 8UA
CO5 8UB
CO5 7PU
CO5 7QB
CM0 7HW
CO5 7QT
CO5 7QA
CO5 7LL
CO5 7PE
CO5 8UJ
CO5 7RH

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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