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

Shildon
High Grange
High Escomb
East Hedleyhope
Grange Villa
Phoenix Row
Horden
Wolsingham
Old Thornley
Eldon
Aukside
Green Head
Quaking Houses
East Howle
Quarrington Hill
East Hope
Westerton
Wheatley Hill
West Auckland
Tursdale
Cleatlam
Sunnybrow
Low Lands
Annfield Plain
Cotherstone
Foxton
Binchester
Kelton
Lanehead
Trimdon
Waldridge
Cold Hesledon
Mickleton
Tanfield Lea
Westgate
Lintzgarth
Bournmoor
Low Beechburn
Bearpark
Howlish
West Blackdene
Causey
Town Kelloe
High Beechburn
Blanchland
Howden-le-Wear
Bowbank
Rushyford
Hutton Henry
Old Wingate
Witton Park
Forest-in-Teesdale
Hawthorn
Barningham
Castle Dene
Edmondbyers
Inkerman
Waskerley
Thorpe
Hummerbeck
Beamish
Crawleyside
Bishop Middleham
No Place
Plawsworth Gate
Langley Moor
East Butsfield
Eldon Lane
Ireshopeburn
Romaldkirk
West Pelton
Wearhead
Witton-le-Wear
Ferryhill
Sunniside
Quebec
Hamsterley
Winston
Peterlee
Stainton Grove
Craghead
Monk Hesleden
The Dene
Evenwood Gate
Tow Law
Rowley
Pelton Fell
Whorlton
Little Thorpe
Leasingthorne
Holmside
Broom Hill
High Westwood
Spennymoor
Newfield
Plawsworth
Alum Waters
Medomsley Edge
Ludworth
Houghall
Staindrop
Ovington
Middle Side
Brotherlee
Eggleston
High Dyke
Urpeth
Coxhoe
Stainton
Middleton-in-Teesdale
Satley
High Hesleden
Thringarth
Hobson
Copthill
Rookhope
Lartington
Barnard Castle
Shincliffe
Hunstanworth
South Hetton
West Butsfield
West Sherburn
Cassop
Muggleswick
Maiden Law
Low Pittington
California
Egglesburn
East Law
Coundon
Sherburn Hill
Thornley
Sheraton
Burtree Ford
Holwick
Cockfield
Sedgefield
Newton Aycliffe
High Pittington
Elstob
Shadforth
Easington
Malton
Toft Hill
Haswell
Kirk Merrington
Boldron
Kinninvie
High Lands
Killhope
Todhills
White-le-Head
Bowes
Lanchester
Toronto
Crook
Headlam
Greta Bridge
Killerby
Tanfield
Old Eldon
Washington
High Etherley
Cornsay
Bowburn
Thinford
Old Quarrington
Burnhope
Close House
Castleside
Willington
Hilton
Iveston
Whitehill
Bildershaw
Oakenshaw
Consett
High Urpeth
Scargill
Morley
Mountsett
Billy Row
Lynesack
Lonton
Northgrain
Woodland
Kelloe
Hurworth Burn
Raby
Briscoe
New Town
St John's Chapel
Evenwood
Woodstone Village
Hett
Bradbury
Ouston
Tantobie
Bedburn
Ebchester
Langley Park
Hill End
Low Westwood
South Cleatlam
Escomb
Leeholme
Heatherycleugh
Sherburn
Bolam
High Shincliffe
East Blackdene
Roddymoor
Chester Moor
Langton
Brancepeth
Leadgate
Newbiggin
Townfield
Blackhall Rocks
Helmington Row
Hury
Esh
Broompark
Littletown
Cowshill
Burnopfield
Medomsley
Great Lumley
Hunderthwaite
Fir Tree
Eastgate
Coppy
Metal Bridge
Ingleton
Hesleden
Gainford
Crookgate Bank
Thorpe Larches
Lane Head
Clough Dene
New Brancepeth
Dalton-le-Dale
Brignall
Birtley
Stanley
Redford
West Rainton
Coundon Grange
Lendings
New Coundon
Witton Gilbert
Frosterley
Cornforth
Wingate
Tan Hills
East Kyo
High Handenhold
Seaton
Kimblesworth
Trimdon Grange
Deaf Hill
Ushaw Moor
Mordon
Snaisgill
Gilmonby
Murton
Croxdale
Edmondsley
Castle Eden
Butterwick
Middridge
Copley
Westwick
Daddry Shield
Morton Tinmouth
Wackerfield
Dipton
Grassholme
Wycliffe
Durham
Pelton
South Side
Knitsley
Coronation
Old Durham
Little Newsham
Stanley Crook
Laithkirk
Thwaite
Ruffside
Pickering Nook
Allensford
Ramshaw
Startforth
Meadowfield
Station Town
Sacriston
Hutton Magna
North Bitchburn
Chester-le-Street
Chilton
Middlestone
Hunwick
Seaham
Bishop Auckland
North Close
Lintzford
Esh Winning
Mainsforth
Stanhope
Old Cassop
Nettlesworth
Sunderland Bridge
Byers Green
Windlestone
Brandon
Langdon Beck
Haswell Plough
Woodhouses
White Kirkley
Fishburn
Woodside
Page Bank
Butterknowle
Low Etherley

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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