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

DT2 8BH
DT2 8BP
DT2 8FB
DT2 8UD
DT2 8BJ
DT2 8FL
DT2 8BS
DT2 8TU
DT2 8XQ
DT2 8TW
DT2 8BW
DT2 8WL
DT2 8ZJ
DT2 8FH
DT2 8TR
DT2 8WJ
DT2 8ZH
DT2 8TS
DT2 8ZG
DT2 8TP
DT2 8UR
DT2 8WU
DT2 8UW
DT2 8UT
DT2 8TT
DT2 8BQ
DT2 8TZ
DT2 8BN
DT2 8UP
DT2 8TX
DT2 8WT
DT2 8TY
DT2 8WR
DT2 8BG
DT2 8BU
DT2 8TN
DT2 8UU
DT2 8WS
DT2 8BF
DT2 8BX
DT2 8XR
DT2 8XT
DT2 8WN
DT2 8WW
DT2 8WP
DT2 8XS
DT2 8BE
DT2 8XU
DT2 8DX
DT2 8BL
DT2 8JE
DT2 8JQ
DT2 8DU
DT2 8WB
DT2 8JA
DT2 8JD
DT2 8FP
DT2 8FN
DT2 8BB
DT2 8JB
DT2 8BD
DT2 8AY
DT2 8AZ
DT2 8BT
DT2 8WD
DT2 8YE
DT2 8YF
DT2 8XY
DT2 8ZA
DT2 8YB
DT2 8YW
DT2 8YR
DT2 8YP
DT2 8HU
DT2 8BA
DT2 8HZ
DT2 8DY
DT2 8FR
DT2 8AU
DT2 8AX
DT2 8AT
DT2 8AS
DT2 8RB
DT2 8UF
DT2 8JG
DT2 8RD
DT2 8PA
DT2 8PB
DT2 8RE
DT2 8PD
DT2 8AR
DT2 8JF
DT2 8DS
DT2 8RA
DT2 8HY
DT2 8RF
DT2 8AP
DT2 8HG
DT2 8HF
DT2 8RG
DT2 8QU
DT2 8HT
DT2 8HQ
DT2 8AW
DT2 8HX
DT2 8DR
DT2 8FQ
DT2 8QR
DT2 8RN
DT2 8XP
DT2 8XD
DT2 8HS
DT2 8HH
DT2 8HP
DT2 8JJ
DT2 8RQ
DT2 8AN
DT2 8HR
DT2 8DT
DT2 8QP
DT2 8RJ
DT2 8BZ
DT2 8BY
DT2 8QW
DT2 8QY
DT2 8HL
DT2 8HN
DT2 8QT
DT2 8HW
DT2 8RH
DT2 8QX
DT2 8PE
DT2 8AL
DT2 8PQ
DT2 8RP
DT2 8UA
DT2 8UL
DT2 8EX
DT2 8PF
DT2 8UN
DT2 8PG
DT2 8LZ
DT2 8HA
DT2 8FW
DT2 8HJ
DT2 8PH
DT2 8PP
DT2 8UX
DT2 8UY
DT2 8QL
DT2 8LU
DT2 8LY
DT2 8DA
DT2 8EA
DT2 8LX
DT2 8LD
DT2 8WG
DT2 8ET
DT2 8AJ
DT2 8XN
DT2 8EZ
DT2 8ES
DT2 8AQ
DT2 8AH
DT2 8XL
DT2 8HD
DT2 8LB
DT2 8ER
DT2 8AG
DT2 8AF
DT2 8EY
DT2 8FG
DT2 8FJ
DT2 8AD
DT2 8XB
DT2 8EN
DT2 8NZ
DT2 8EU
DT2 8UB
DT2 8EB
DT2 8EW
DT2 8XA
DT2 8AE
DT2 8LW
DT2 8DB
DT2 8LN
DT2 8AB
DT2 8DG
DT2 8EL
DT2 8EP
DT2 8EJ
DT2 8UJ
DT2 8LA
DT2 8EQ
DT2 8EF
DT2 8EH
DT2 8UH
DT2 8EG
DT2 8SP
DT2 8LE
DT2 8RL
DT2 8LS
DT2 8WQ
DT2 8EE
DT2 8US
DT2 8HE
DT2 8QN
DT2 8FX
DT2 8ED
DT2 8LT
DT2 8LL
DT2 8QZ
DT2 8JH

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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