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 County Durham

DL15 8BF
DL15 8BG
DL15 8EU
DL15 8HQ
DL15 8HH
DL15 8HJ
DL15 8EX
DL15 8HL
DL15 8EY
DL15 8HN
DL15 8ES
DL15 8ET
DL15 8HS
DL15 8HA
DL15 8JS
DL15 8HZ
DL15 8EF
DL15 8HR
DL15 8EZ
DL15 8FB
DL15 8HY
DL15 8HW
DL15 8RB
DL15 8HX
DL15 8HF
DL15 8HP
DL15 8HT
DL15 8HU
DL15 8ER
DL15 8HB
DL15 8HD
DL15 8JA
DL15 8JR
DL15 8HE
DL15 8EW
DL15 8JP
DL15 8EJ
DL15 8EP
DL15 8AD
DL15 8GH
DL15 8EQ
DL15 8BE
DL15 8AE
DL15 8AF
DL15 8BH
DL15 8EE
DL15 8BQ
DL15 8AB
DL15 8JB
DL15 8XX
DL15 8YT
DL15 8YS
DL15 8JD
DL15 8AH
DL15 8AA
DL15 8AQ
DL15 8EL
DL15 8AG
DL15 8AJ
DL15 8EH
DL15 8JY
DL15 8HG
DL15 8FD
DL15 8AL
DL15 8BD
DL15 8BJ
DL15 8EN
DL15 8JN
DL14 0BH
DL15 8JE
DL15 8GA
DL15 8BB
DL15 8JH
DL15 8RA
DL15 8LR
DL15 8BA
DL15 8JF
DL15 8JW
DL15 8AN
DL15 8ED
DL15 8JL
DL15 8JJ
DL15 8PN
DL15 8LD
DL15 8JG
DL15 8PL
DL15 8LT
DL15 8PY
DL15 8PX
DL15 8YU
DL15 8YY
DL15 9FR
DL15 8LE
DL15 8LB
DL15 8LS
DL15 8PJ
DL15 8JZ
DL15 8AX
DL15 9FN
DL14 0AQ
DL15 9FQ
DL15 8LA
DL14 0AG
DL15 8PQ
DL15 9UB
DL15 8NA
DL15 8LU
DL15 8AY
DL15 8PH
DL15 8WZ
DL15 8WY
DL15 8BL
DL15 9FP
DL14 0AH
DL15 8SA
DL15 8AS
DL15 8PP
DL15 9GG
DL15 8JX
DL15 9GH
DL15 8LP
DL15 8JT
DL15 8PR
DL15 9GL
DL15 8AZ
DL15 8AT
DL15 9PZ
DL15 9GJ
DL15 9PX
DL15 8AW
DL15 8PG
DL15 9TP
DL15 9TN
DL15 0RE
DL15 8PE
DL15 8LF
DL15 9UD
DL15 8PF
DL15 9TR
DL14 0BQ
DL15 9GP
DL15 8PW
DL15 9TS
DL15 9GQ
DL15 8NB
DL15 9GN
DL15 9PP
DL15 9GR
DL15 8LJ
DL15 8LQ
DL15 8PZ
DL15 8AR
DL15 8LG
DL15 9TT
DL15 8PT
DL15 8NN
DL15 9AJ
DL15 9PU
DL15 9TU
DL15 8LH
DL15 9GA
DL15 8LZ
DL15 8LY
DL15 8PD
DL15 0SF
DL15 9TX
DL15 8PS
DL15 9PS
DL15 9TW
DL15 8LW
DL15 9PR
DL15 9GD
DL15 8LL
DL15 8NU
DL15 9TY
DL15 8NS
DL14 0AJ
DL15 9YX
DL15 9GB
DL15 8LN
DL15 8QT
DL15 8PB
DL15 9GF
DL15 8NT
DL15 9PT
DL15 9TZ
DL15 8PA
DL15 9GS
DL15 8QE
DL15 9GE
DL15 8PU
DL15 8BN
DL15 8QB
DL15 8QS
DL15 9PE
DL15 8QN
DL15 9PB
DL15 9UU
DL15 8QP
DL15 9UT
DL15 9PD
DL15 8QR
DL15 8NX
DL15 9PA
DL15 9NX
DL15 8QL
DL15 0SE
DL14 0BN
DL15 9NR
DL15 9PY
DL14 0BD
DL14 0BE
DL15 8AP
DL15 8NR
DL15 8QG
DL15 8NL
DL14 0BG
DL15 9UX
DL15 9LS
DL14 0BB
DL15 9PW
DL15 8QX
DL15 8QU
DL15 0UN
DL15 9UH
DL15 8NP
DL15 9UY
DL15 9LT
DL15 9PL
DL14 0AL
DL15 8QW
DL15 0RF
DL15 0RD
DL14 0AR
DL14 0BA
DL15 9NU
DL15 9UJ
DL15 9NS
DL15 8BW
DL15 8ND
DL15 8QF
DL14 0AW
DL15 9EY
DL15 8EA
DL14 0AN
DL15 9EZ
DL15 9EP
DL15 9HA
DL15 8NH
DL15 9LR
DL15 9PJ
DL15 9HW
DL15 8QQ
DL15 8QJ
DL15 9HB
DL15 9PF
DL15 9HR
DL15 9HD
DL15 8DD
DL15 8NQ
DL15 0UL
DL15 8NE
DL14 0GA
DL15 9PN
DL15 8QH
DL15 9HP
DL15 8DB
DL15 9BY
DL14 0DH
DL15 8BP
DL14 0AZ
DL15 8DA
DL15 8NG
DL15 8DZ
DL15 0SD
DL15 9HN
DL15 9HE
DL15 9NP
DL15 9NT
DL15 8NF
DL15 9BW
DL14 0AS
DL15 9BP
DL15 9BG
DL15 9BN
DL15 9JZ
DL15 9UZ
DL15 9PH
DL15 9UA
DL15 9BQ
DL15 8NJ
DL15 9PQ
DL15 9DA
DL15 9DB
DL15 9DQ
DL15 9JT
DL15 9PG
DL15 9BA
DL15 9JS
DL15 9JP
DL15 9HF
DL15 0LL
DL15 8DE
DL15 0SB
DL15 9BB
DL15 9AH
DL15 9LU
DL15 9LP
DL15 9HJ
DL15 9LL
DL15 9BL
DL15 0LH
DL15 0UW
DL15 9LQ
DL15 9LW
DL15 9DD
DL15 9HQ
DL15 9BJ
DL15 9DG
DL15 9LN
DL15 9DH
DL14 0AT
DL15 9LJ
DL15 0UJ
DL15 9ET
DL15 9ES
DL15 9BH
DL15 9JU
DL15 9HT
DL14 0AU
DL14 4SD
DL14 4SA
DL14 4SH
DL14 4SB
DL14 4SN
DL14 4SJ
DL14 4SS
DL14 4SR
DL14 4SP
DL14 4SY
DL14 4SW
DL14 4SG
DL14 4SX
DL14 4SQ
DL14 4SU
DL14 4ST
DL14 4SE
DL14 4SF
DL14 4SL
DL15 9HS
DL15 8EB
DL15 9JY
DL14 0AY
DL15 9DF
DL15 9LH
DL15 9ED
DL15 9DJ
DL15 9BE
DL14 0DJ
DL15 9LG
DL15 9DE
DL15 8EG
DL15 9AZ
DL15 9DL
DL15 9JN
DL15 9BD
DL15 0LD
DL15 0SA
DL15 9LF
DL15 9HL
DL15 9EQ
DL14 0AX
DL15 9JR
DL15 0RG
DL14 0BL
DL15 8DF
DL15 9HH
DL15 9EG
DL15 9LE
DL14 0BP
DL15 9QB
DL15 9DS
DL15 9ND
DL15 0XP
DL15 9LD
DL15 9QA
DL15 9EL
DL15 9EE
DL15 0XF
DL15 9LA
DL15 9NE
DL15 9EF
DL14 0AD
DL15 0LJ
DL15 9DU
DL15 9DT
DL15 9EH
DL15 0LQ
DL15 8JU
DL15 8JQ
DL15 9EB
DL14 0BJ
DL15 9HU
DL15 0LN
DL15 9DW
DL15 8DG
DL15 9EJ
DL15 9EN
DL15 0XR
DL15 9DX
DL15 9LB
DL15 8AU
DL15 9DN
DL15 8GB
DL15 9HX
DL15 9DR
DL15 9HY
DL15 9NA
DL15 9NH
DL15 9EW
DL15 0LG
DL15 0XL
DL15 9EA
DL15 9AA
DL15 8DQ
DL15 9DP
DL15 0LR
DL15 9DY
DL15 0XW
DL15 9LX
DL15 0LP
DL15 9DZ
DL15 9NB
DL15 9AD
DL15 9WB
DL15 0JJ
DL15 9NN
DL15 9HZ
DL15 0JG
DL15 9JW
DL15 9AB
DL15 0LS
DL15 0JL
DL15 9JF
DL15 8DH
DL15 9NY
DL15 9LY
DL15 9JE
DL15 9LZ
DL15 9YL
DL15 9YJ
DL15 9YF
DL15 9YG
DL15 9JA
DL15 0JH
DL15 0JW
DL15 0LF
DL15 0GA
DL15 9ER
DL15 0JN
DL15 9YP
DL15 9YR
DL15 9YU
DL15 9YW
DL15 9YN
DL15 9YH
DL15 9JG
DL15 0XJ
DL15 9NW
DL15 9NF
DL15 9JQ
DL15 0JP
DL15 0LE
DL15 0JQ
DL15 0JS
DL15 0RY
DL15 0XN
DL15 9JL
DL15 0RL
DL15 9JJ
DL14 0BW
DL15 9JB
DL15 9JH
DL15 9AQ
DL15 0JR
DL15 9JX
DL15 9JD
DL15 9AG
DL15 9NG
DL15 9NJ
DL15 9NL
DL15 0LA
DL15 9QD
DL15 0JY
DL15 8DJ
DL15 0JX
DL15 0JZ
DL15 0RT
DL15 0RX
DL14 0EA
DL15 0RU
DL15 9NQ
DL15 0JT
DL15 0RQ
DL15 0RS
DL14 7RL
DL15 0JU
DL15 0LT
DL15 0RR
DL15 0LU
DL15 0LW
DL15 0RW
DL15 9AE
DL15 9RL
DL15 0NR
DL15 9QE
DL15 8DL
DL14 0AE
DL15 0RH
DL14 0AF
DL14 0ED
DL15 0NP
DL14 0EQ
DL15 0NS
DL14 0EJ
DL15 0NT
DL13 3PF
DL14 0EE
DL15 0LZ
DL15 8DW
DL15 0LX
DL15 0NU
DL15 0LB
DL14 0DW
DL15 0LY
DL14 0ER
DL14 0EL
DL14 0DY
DL15 0XQ
DL14 0DA
DL14 0DQ
DL14 0EB
DL15 0NX
DL15 0XH
DL15 8DN
DL15 0RP
DL14 0DZ
DL15 0XG
DL14 7RH
DL15 0ND
DL15 0NA
DL14 0EN
DL15 9TE
DL14 0DX
DL15 0XA
DL15 0NL
DL15 8DP
DL15 8DR
DL15 0NF
DL15 0XB
DL15 0HZ
DL15 0HY
DL15 0NG
DL14 0DL
DL15 0EY
DL15 9TD
DL15 0NJ
DL14 0EW
DL15 0XE
DL15 0NH
DL14 0AB
DL15 8DS
DL14 0ET
DL14 0EP
DL15 0NN
DL15 0NQ
DL15 9AX
DL15 0SG
DL14 0DU
DL15 9AF
DL15 0XD
DL14 7RJ
DL15 0NW
DL14 0DB
DL15 0RJ
DL14 0DT
DL15 9RA
DL15 0PS
DL15 9RB
DL15 0HG
DL15 0GF
DL15 9QZ
DL15 0RA
DL15 0PU
DL14 0DS
DL14 7SU
DL15 0HU
DL15 0GE
DL15 0DZ
DL15 8DU
DL15 9RJ
DL15 0PY
DL15 0HD
DL15 0TU
DL15 0HX
DL15 9QF
DL15 0EF
DL15 0HT
DL15 0PX
DL15 0EE
DL15 0GB
DL15 0GG
DL15 0TZ
DL15 8DT
DL15 0ED
DL15 0JA
DL15 0QU
DL15 0EA
DL15 9QY
DL15 9RD
DL15 0GD
DL15 0QA
DL15 0HS
DL15 0DY
DL15 9RW
DL15 9RH
DL15 0AP
DL15 0QB
DL15 0DX
DL15 0HP
DL15 0HB
DL15 0HN
DL15 0PT
DL15 0EG
DL15 9QQ
DL15 0DU
DL14 0DE
DL15 0HH
DL15 0EB
DL15 0YY
DL15 0YX
DL15 0PR
DL15 0HQ
DL15 0TT
DL15 0HR
DL15 0DD
DL15 0HW
DL15 9RE
DL15 0HL
DL15 9RQ
DL15 0RB
DL15 0YZ
DL15 9QX
DL15 0FG
DL15 9RF
DL15 0DW
DL15 0DP
DL15 0PZ
DL15 0DR
DL15 9QG
DL15 9RG
DL15 9TQ
DL14 0DF
DL15 0PA
DL14 0DR
DL15 9TB
DL15 9SZ
DL15 0PP
DL15 0HJ
DL14 0AA
DL15 0PE
DL15 9SX
DL15 9SY
DL15 0DT
DL14 0DG
DL15 0DS
DL15 0QD
DL15 0PD
DL14 7SY
DL15 0PQ
DL15 0PB
DL15 0QT
DL15 0QR
DL15 0EQ
DL15 9TA
DL15 0PF
DL15 0PH
DL15 0PW
DL15 0PJ
DL15 9SU
DL15 0QF
DL14 0LB
DL14 7SZ
DL15 0QG
DL14 7RN
DL15 8DX
DL14 7SX
DL15 0PG
DL14 0LT
DL15 0QE
DL14 7SW
DL15 9SS
DL15 0EH
DL14 8DA
DL13 3RQ
DL15 9TF
DL15 0PL
DL14 8BP
DL14 7UT
DL14 7WW
DL14 7WX
DL14 7WS
DL15 0PN
DL15 8LX
DL14 7TA
DL13 3PG
DL14 7XY
DL15 0HA
DL15 9QJ
DL15 0EZ
DL15 0RZ
DL14 7YZ
DL14 7SQ
DL15 0QQ
DL15 0QW
DL15 0TS
DL15 9RZ
DL15 0AA
DL15 0QP
DL13 4NJ
DL14 8DR
DL14 8DS
DL15 0AE
DL14 7ST
DL15 0AG
DL15 0QN
DL14 7SJ
DL14 7TJ
DL14 0EZ
DL15 0QH
DL15 0QS
DL15 0AD
DL15 9AL
DL14 7SH
DL15 0RN
DL14 7UJ
DL14 7YY
DL14 7YW
DL14 7YU
DL14 7YS
DL14 7YP
DL14 7YH
DL15 0DQ
DL14 0LX
DL15 9TG
DL14 7RW
DL15 9ST
DL14 8BW
DL15 0AB
DL15 0EL
DL15 0QJ
DL15 0AW
DL14 8BH
DL15 0TW
DL14 0EU
DL14 8BN
DL15 9QL
DL15 9RY
DL15 0QL
DL14 8BJ
DL14 7RR
DL13 4NL
DL15 9RX
DL14 8BL
DL15 9SD
DL14 0JG
DL15 0EU
DL14 7RY
DL14 0HG
DL14 0LS
DL14 0LR
DL14 8DB
DL14 0HE
DL14 0EX
DL15 9SA
DL15 9RU
DL14 0LU
DL15 0AQ
DL15 9TH
DL14 8DE
DL15 0AN
DL15 0AR
DL14 7RS
DL15 9QN
DL14 8DD
DL14 8DG
DL15 9SB
DL15 0AS
DL15 9SR
DL14 7RX
DL15 0AZ
DL14 0JL
DL15 0AY
DL14 8DF
DL15 9SP
DL14 8BQ
DL14 7SS
DL14 0HF
DL15 9SF
DL14 7RP
DL15 0BA
DL15 0AH
DL15 0AJ
DL14 7SR
DL15 0AL
DL14 0YY
DL14 0YW
DL14 0YU
DL14 0YT
DL14 0YR
DL15 0AT
DL15 9SE
DL14 0HB
DL15 0AU
DL14 0HD
DL15 0EJ
DL15 0BQ
DL14 0EY
DL15 0AX
DL14 7RU
DL15 9SW
DL15 9UG
DL14 0HA
DL15 0BB
DL15 9SG
DL14 0TE
DL13 3RE
DL14 0HQ
DL15 0UR
DL15 9UF
DL15 9UE
DL13 3PR
DL15 0UY
DL13 3PT
DL14 0JH
DL13 3PS
DL15 0UX
DL15 9QW
DL13 4NN
DL15 0EX
DL13 3RH
DL14 0HH
DL14 7RZ
DL15 9SN
DL15 0EN
DL15 0ET
DL14 7RT
DL15 0UZ
DL15 9QP
DL14 0HL
DL14 7SA
DL14 0LY
DL15 9QR
DL15 0BU
DL13 3PD
DL14 7SB
DL15 9TJ
DL14 7SP
DL14 8BG
DL15 0DN
DL15 0QX
DL15 0EW
DL15 0BD
DL15 0TR
DL14 0QQ
DL14 0QE
DL13 3RG
DL15 0DH
DL13 3PP
DL15 0UU
DL14 0QH
DL15 0BH
DL15 9GW
DL14 0LA
DL15 0QZ
DL14 0HJ
DL14 0HN
DL15 0EP
DL15 0DG
DL14 0TB
DL14 0JZ
DL15 0DL
DL15 0QY
DL15 9RN
DL13 3PU
DL14 7UB
DL15 9QS
DL14 0TG
DL14 0HW
DL14 0TA
DL15 9AN
DL15 0BE
DL15 0DJ
DL15 0GT
DL14 8BE
DL14 7SG
DL15 0BG
DL14 0TD
DL15 0ES
DL15 0GU
DL14 0JN
DL15 0GR
DL14 0HP
DL15 9SJ
DL15 0SR
DL14 0TQ
DL14 8DH
DL15 0GH
DL14 0JW
DL14 7SD
DL15 0ER
DL14 0HU
DL13 3PX
DL15 9QT
DL15 0GS
DL14 8DJ
DL13 3QB
DL14 0HS
DL15 9QU
DL14 0JY
DL15 0SP
DL15 9SL
DL13 3QA
DL14 0JF
DL15 0UQ
DL15 0UH
DL14 0HT

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