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

DT11 8RX
DT11 8RY
DT11 8RR
DT11 8RU
DT11 8GZ
DT11 8BY
DT11 8TT
DT11 8RT
DT11 8RZ
DT11 8JX
DT11 8SB
DT11 8JF
DT11 8HY
DT11 8HZ
DT11 8SF
DT11 8BB
DT11 8AZ
DT11 8BD
DT11 8BA
DT11 8HX
DT11 8JY
DT11 8GY
DT11 8BG
DT11 8BN
DT11 8BL
DT11 8BW
DT11 8JA
DT11 8BQ
DT11 8JB
DT11 8SP
DT11 8SG
DT11 8RS
DT11 8RW
DT11 8RL
DT11 8RP
DT11 8JD
DT11 8BH
DT11 8AL
DT11 8BE
DT11 8AJ
DT11 8JE
DT11 8AP
DT11 8AU
DT11 8AT
DT11 8SQ
DT11 8SN
DT11 8AW
DT11 8AN
DT11 8AX
DT11 8PL
DT11 8AY
DT11 8SR
DT11 8AS
DT11 8RE
DT11 8BJ
DT11 8JG
DT11 8SD
BH21 5JX
BH21 5BQ
BH21 5JY
DT11 8AG
DT11 8SH
BH21 5LD
DT11 8AF
DT11 8AQ
DT11 8FD
BH21 5JU
BH21 5JZ
DT11 8RJ
DT11 8AE
BH21 5LA
DT11 8AB
BH21 5BH
BH21 5LE
BH21 5BU
DT11 8AD
BH21 5BE
DT11 8SE
DT11 8AA
BH21 5LF
DT11 8RN
DT11 8RH
BH21 5BT
DT11 8AH
BH21 5BD
BH21 5BS
DT11 8BP
BH21 5BP
DT11 8UN
DT11 8UW
DT11 8UJ
BH21 5BG
DT11 8UL
BH21 5LB
DT11 8BZ
BH21 5BW
BH21 5BB
BH21 5BN
BH21 5DS
DT11 9JQ
DT11 8UH
DT11 8UX
DT11 8TS
DT11 8UU
DT11 8XA
DT11 8XG
DT11 8XQ
DT11 8YG
DT11 8TX
DT11 8FE
DT11 8UQ
DT11 8XE
DT11 8XF
DT11 8UB
DT11 8UG
BH21 5BJ
DT11 8XD
DT11 8UA
DT11 8UY
DT11 8XB
DT11 8TY
DT11 8UT
DT11 8UE
DT11 8BT
DT11 8UF
BH21 5BA
BH21 5BL
DT11 9HN
DT11 8XJ
DT11 8XH
DT11 8BS
DT11 8TU
DT11 8TZ
DT11 8UR
DT11 8JQ
DT11 8UP
DT11 8XZ
DT11 8SJ
DT11 8UD
DT11 8WX
DT11 8WA
DT11 8UZ
DT11 8XL
DT11 8WF
DT11 9JG
BH21 5BY
DT11 8JP
DT11 8SL
DT11 9JJ
DT11 9JF
DT11 8JW
DT11 8BX
DT11 8JL
DT11 8JJ
DT11 9JH
BH21 5DR
DT11 9HW
DT11 8JR
DT11 7ST
BH21 5AJ
DT11 8BU
DT11 8DA
DT11 9JE
BH21 5HW
BH21 5HY
BH21 5AL
DT11 8JN
BH21 5DG
BH21 5AN
DT11 8DB
BH21 5HT
BH21 5HX
BH21 5DT
BH21 5AW
BH21 5DX
BH21 5HZ
BH21 5BX
BH21 5AS
DT11 7SP
BH21 5AX
BH21 5DZ
DT11 7SS
BH21 5BZ
BH21 5AP
BH21 5AZ
BH21 5AT
BH21 5AR
BH21 5EA
BH21 5JD
BH21 5YE
BH21 5YF
BH21 5YD
BH21 5YB
BH21 5JA
BH21 5DU
BH21 5AH
DT11 9JD

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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