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

Seaborough
Stalbridge Weston
New Milton
Tollard Farnham
Stourpaine
Steepleton Iwerne
Redbridge
Dewlish
Lyon's Gate
Affpuddle
Melbury Osmond
Compton Valence
Lulworth Cove
Walton Elm
Coombe Keynes
Melbury Bubb
Whitefield
Higher Eype
Organford
Hammoon
Farnham
Bloxworth
Mosterton
Cerne Abbas
Chideock
Cross Lanes
Woolford's Water
Margaret Marsh
Lower Street
Sutton Holms
Kimmeridge
North Chideock
Stoborough Green
Cold Harbour
Sydling St Nicholas
North Bockhampton
South Bockhampton
Shaggs
Brockhampton Green
Cosmore
Hummer
Tarrant Hinton
Lower Nyland
Broad Oak
Three Legged Cross
Little Ansty and Pleck
Haythorne
Holwell
Ashley
Post Green
Todber
Stour Row
Tarrant Rushton
Manston
Church Knowle
West Stour
Evershot
White Moor
Spetisbury
Bradpole
Wool
Twyford
Gibbs Marsh
West Pulham
Longham
God's Blessing Green
Avon Common
Crooked Withies
Harman's Cross
Silton
Cocknowle
Winterborne Clenston
Fiddleford
Gussage All Saints
Lyme Regis
Netherhay
Blandford Forum
Winterborne Kingston
West End
Glebeland Estate
Holway
Lake
Ryme Intrinseca
Chettle
Acton
Tollerford
West Chelborough
Motcombe
Waddon
Waytown
Lower Row
Blackpool Corner
Holton Heath
Thornicombe
West Stafford
Fleet
Corscombe
Symondsbury
Plush
Dottery
Puddletown
Sherborne
Milton on Stour
Toller Fratrum
East Chelborough
West Milton
Knob's Crook
Bingham's Melcombe
Rampisham
Cann Common
Chilfrome
Charmouth
Quarr
Bincombe
Hampreston
Hartmoor
Hursey
Totnell
Moorbath
Raymond's Hill
Adam's Green
Owermoigne
Netherstoke
Stoborough
Langton Long Blandford
Chalmington
Stafford's Green
Redford
Woodyates
Edmondsham
East Holme
Whitchurch Canonicorum
Studland
Colesbrook
Trickett's Cross
Shitterton
Sharnhill Green
Aller
Sutton Waldron
Mangerton
Broom Hill
Hurst
Alton Pancras
Leweston
Filford
Knowlton
Holditch
Chalbury Common
Morcombelake
West Orchard
Trent
Penn
Thornford
Gannetts
West Bexington
Parley Green
Lower Halstock Leigh
Birdsmoorgate
Beer Hackett
Wigbeth
Charlton Marshall
West Holme
Up Cerne
Monkton Up Wimborne
King's Stag
Haydon
Hedge End
Gore
Long Bredy
Sandhills
Swyre
Madjeston
Winterborne Tomson
West Hurn
Fortuneswell
Bishop's Down
Avon Castle
Little Canford
Holt Heath
Pamphill
Fifehead Magdalen
Benville
Eccliffe
Puncknowle
Gaunts
Stoke Abbott
Stalbridge
Furzehill
Fishpond Bottom
Moor Crichel
Batcombe
Furzebrook
Huish
Abbotsbury
Glanvilles Wootton
Higher Nyland
Hinton St Mary
Wimborne Minster
Blackney
Manswood
Fontmell Magna
Birch Close
Bryanston
Bere Regis
Woodlands
Oborne
Athelhampton
Iwerne Minster
North Poorton
Dean
Chickerell
Ashmore
Greenham
Lower Mannington
Winterborne Came
Atrim
West Chaldon and Chaldon Boys
Rodden
East Stoke
Shothole
Bridport
Steeple
Alweston
West Woodsford
Anderson
Ringstead
Mappowder
Thorncombe
The Common
Witchampton
Long Crichel
Pilsdon
Adber
Holywell
Lower Ansty
Hilton
Catherston Leweston
Cruxton
East Bloxworth
Maiden Newton
Whitecross
Bourton
Shapwick
Kit Hill
Cripplestyle
Tarrant Keyneston
Hooke
Lodge Copse Estate
Easton
White Lackington
Piddletrenthide
Uploders
Lower Strode
Bagber
Tarrant Crawford
Charminster
Ryall
Higher Row
Bedchester
Osehill Green
South Bowood
Coryates
Stone
Mannington
Higher Sandford
South Poorton
Ash
Newland
Spyway
Uphall
Marshwood
St Leonards
Ferndown
Turnworth
Litton Cheney
Kingston
Melcombe Bingham
Higher Totnell
Bradford Peverell
West Moors
Fifehead St Quintin
Burton
West Parley
Hanford
Worth Matravers
Winterborne Stickland
Halstock
Winterborne Houghton
Caundle Marsh
Arne
East Lulworth
Moreton
Poyntington
Higher Coombe
Lytchett Matravers
Broadoak
Crossways
Boveridge
Beacon Hill
Three Gates
West Morden
Oxbridge
Bowridge Hill
Minchington
Sturminster Marshall
Alderholt
East Holton
Marshalsea
Pulham
Wareham
Quarleston
Coldharbour
Ansty Cross
West Bourton
Broadwindsor
Winterborne Zelston
Frampton
Kington Magna
Lytchett Minster
New Town
Grange
Blackdown
Deanend
Woolland
Daggons
West Shilvinghampton
Walditch
West Compton
Briantspuddle
Woodcutts
Belchalwell Street
Tarrant Launceston
Langton Matravers
Muckleford
Laymore
Tatworth
Horton Heath
Kingsland
Ansty
Higher Halstock Leigh
Cattistock
Pleck Green
Verwood
Purse Caundle
Drimpton
East Chaldon and Chaldon Herring
Portway
Sixpenny Handley
Slepe
Frome St Quintin
Toller Porcorum
Middlemarsh
Lower Whatcombe
Binnegar
Gillingham
Powerstock
The Folly
Higher Kingcombe
Rivers' Corner
Folke
Yetminster
Littlebredy
Turners Puddle
East Shilvinghampton
Norden
Shipton Gorge
Swanage
Hill Street
Kingston Russell
Stoke Wake
South Perrott
West Melbury
Matchams
Sandford
East Stour
Farrington
Bishop's Caundle
Charlton Down
Poxwell
Loscombe
The Mount
Chedington
Hemsworth
Goathill
Langham
East Knighton
Cowgrove
Ridge
Woolcombe
Higher Ansty
Hinton Parva
Ashley Heath
Huntingford
Cann
Blacknoll
Lower Daggons
Lower Eype
East Creech
Okeford Fitzpaine
Stallen
East Morden
Rew
Langton Herring
Piddlehinton
Whitcombe
Lane End
Hamlet
Bettiscombe
Duntish
Cheselbourne
Winterborne Monkton
Chalbury
Lower Kingcombe
Upton
Melplash
Warren
Shillingstone
Burstock
Puxey
Milton Abbas
Westfields
North Wootton
Stubhampton
Henstridge Marsh
Shroton and Iwerne Courtney
Merriott
Stratton
Woolgarston
Lower Bockhampton
Pallington
Osmington
Hinton Martell
Merritown
The Borough
Bugley
Wimborne St Giles
Bookham
West Lulworth
Nettlecombe
Lydlinch
Toller Whelme
Burton Bradstock
Weston
School House
Askerswell
Melbury Abbas
Higher Whatcombe
Milborne St Andrew
Warmwell
Wooth
Godmanstone
Chilcombe
Henley
East Pulham
Winterbourne Steepleton
Winterborne Muston
Pleck
Lewcombe
Burngate
Beaminster
Melbury Sampford
Winkton
Pymore
Cashmoor
Yeovil
Little Woolgarston
Winterborne St Martin and Martinstown
Longburton
Hurn
Clift
Up Sydling
Gaunt's Common
Stanbridge
Nether Compton
Hillbutts
Burleston
Worgret
Pentridge
Galton
Newton Peveril
Miles Cross
Stour Provost
Compton Abbas
Kitford
Shave Cross
Sandleheath
North End
Buckland Ripers
Holworth
Hartgrove
Hazelbury Bryan
Stinsford
Tarrant Monkton
Littlewindsor
Guy's Marsh
Chetnole
Portesham
Middle Bockhampton
Holt
Belchalwell
Winterborne Herringston
Forston
Child Okeford
Durweston
Winfrith Newburgh
Stourton Caundle
Winterbourne Abbas
Woodsford
Sandpit
Fifehead Neville
Weymouth
Higher Bockhampton
Westford
Buckhorn Weston
Horton
Chilbridge
Corfe Castle
Ibberton
Lower Wraxall
West Knighton
Tarrant Rawston
Stokeford
Friar Waddon
Marnhull
Gussage St Michael
Combe Almer
Lillington
Meerhay
Gotham
Wynford Eagle
Almer
Boys Hill
Southover
Portland Bill
Moorside
Tolpuddle
Kingston Maurward
Creech Bottom
Loders
Leigh
Bradford Abbas
St Ives
Minterne Parva
Clapgate
Creech
East Parley
Primrose Hill
Grimstone
Wootton Fitzpaine
Throop
Seatown
Yondover
Woodbridge
Mapperton
Woodville
Broadmayne
Uppington
Gussage St Andrew
Sturminster Newton
Higher Wraxall
Whitmore
Corfe Mullen
Dorchester
Sandford Orcas
Over Compton
Stockwood
Ulwell
Salway Ash
Southwell
Buckland Newton
East Melbury
Grove
Holmebridge
Minterne Magna
Holnest
Higher Melcombe
Crendell
Pimperne
Tincleton
Deanland
Poolestown
Netherbury
Winterborne Whitechurch
Knighton
Ilsington
Tarrant Gunville
Stoborough Heath
Pig Oak
Dunbury
Holt Wood
Caundle Wake
Shaftesbury
North Bowood

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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