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 Dorset

DT8 3LE
DT8 3LG
TA20 4NY
TA20 4QA
DT6 5QQ
TA20 4PY
TA20 4NX
DT6 5QH
TA18 8QB
DT8 3LD
TA18 8QD
TA20 4PZ
DT8 3LQ
TA20 4PX
TA20 4NZ
TA20 4NT
TA20 4PT
TA20 4NU
TA20 4PR
TA20 4PP
TA20 4PD
TA18 8QE
TA20 4LQ
TA20 4NG
TA18 8RB
TA20 4NF
TA20 4NE
TA20 4PF
TA20 4PE
TA20 4QB
TA20 4PG
TA20 4PQ
DT6 5QG
TA18 8QA
TA20 4ND
TA20 4PU
DT6 5NX
TA20 4PH
DT8 3LH
TA20 4NB
DT8 3LL
TA20 4PW
DT8 3RN
TA20 4PA
TA20 4LX
DT8 3LJ
DT8 3RL
TA20 4PS
TA18 8PZ
TA20 4LY
DT8 3RW
DT8 3RP
DT8 3RF
DT8 3RR
DT6 5NU
DT6 5QF
DT8 3RZ
DT8 3RX
DT8 3RH
DT8 3RY
TA20 4PJ
DT8 3RQ
DT8 3RG
DT6 5QE
DT8 3RE
DT6 5QD
DT8 3RD
DT8 3LB
TA20 4NA
DT6 5NT
TA20 4LZ
DT6 5QB
TA20 4PL
DT8 3RS
DT8 3RB
TA20 4JQ
DT8 3RJ
DT6 5FN
TA18 8QJ
TA20 4NQ
TA20 4EF
TA18 8QH
TA18 8PY
DT6 5QA
TA20 4JG
DT8 3LN
TA20 4JY
TA18 8QF
TA20 4JF
TA18 8PX
TA20 4PN
TA20 4JE
TA18 8QG
TA18 8QQ
TA20 4HZ
TA20 4JD
TA18 8PU
TA20 4HY
DT6 5NY
DT6 5NS
TA20 4NR
TA20 4HX
DT8 3QJ
DT8 3QZ
TA20 4JB
DT8 3QW
DT8 3QH
DT8 3QN
TA20 4HU
DT6 5NZ
TA20 4JA
TA20 4LB
TA20 4DX
DT6 5QJ
EX13 5UU
DT8 3QQ
TA20 4DY
TA20 1PJ
TA20 4EE
TA20 4JJ
TA20 4LG
TA20 4LR
TA18 8QL
TA20 4LD
DT6 5PZ
DT8 3QL
TA20 4LP
TA20 4JH
EX13 5UT
TA20 4ED
DT6 5PE
DT8 3QG
TA20 4EP
TA20 4EB
TA20 4LA
TA20 4DZ
DT8 3QF
DT8 3QE
TA20 4LS
DT8 3QD
TA20 4JL
TA20 4EA
DT8 3SY
DT8 3QB
TA20 4JN
TA20 4YU
TA20 4HR
DT8 3PY
TA20 4LE
DT8 3QA
TA18 8PS
DT8 3QP
DT8 3PZ
TA18 8PT
DT8 3QX
TA18 8RA
DT8 3RU
TA18 8QN
DT8 3QS
TA20 4LU
DT8 3QY
TA20 4BF
DT8 3RA
TA20 4HP
TA20 4NP
DT8 3PX
DT8 3LA
TA18 8PR
TA20 4LT
TA20 4LW
DT8 3ST
TA20 4EQ
TA18 8QW
TA20 4JZ
TA20 4JW
TA20 4EW
TA20 4EG
DT8 3QR
DT8 3QT
DT8 3QU
TA20 4NS
TA20 4HS
EX13 5XL
DT6 5QL
TA20 4EL
DT6 6HP
TA20 4NW
TA20 4JP
TA20 4HT
TA20 4LF
EX13 5UX
DT6 5PB
DT6 5PA
EX13 5XQ
TA20 4EH
DT8 3PU
TA18 8PL
TA20 4JR

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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