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 Kent

ME12 4RB
ME12 4RF
ME12 4EQ
ME12 4LE
ME12 4QW
ME12 4LB
ME12 4RT
ME12 4LH
ME12 4RE
ME12 4LJ
ME12 4LL
ME12 4QE
ME12 4QF
ME12 4QA
ME12 4EA
ME12 4QD
ME12 4LD
ME12 4PY
ME12 4PX
ME12 4LP
ME12 4LG
ME12 4QB
ME12 4LF
ME12 4RG
ME12 4QG
ME12 4LR
ME12 4RW
ME12 4QH
ME12 4QQ
ME12 4RN
ME12 4QY
ME12 4LN
ME12 4QZ
ME12 4RQ
ME12 4RD
ME12 4QJ
ME12 4QN
ME12 4LX
ME12 4QS
ME12 4QR
ME12 4RH
ME12 4LZ
ME12 4RS
ME12 4NA
ME12 4QT
ME12 4QL
ME12 4QP
ME12 4LS
ME12 4LT
ME12 4LU
ME12 4NB
ME12 4RR
ME12 4QU
ME12 4QX
ME12 4RA
ME12 4AB
ME12 4LY
ME12 4NF
ME12 4ND
ME12 4PS
ME12 4NQ
ME12 4NL
ME12 4NG
ME12 4PR
ME12 4NJ
ME12 4AE
ME12 4PG
ME12 4AD
ME12 4NH
ME12 4NE
ME12 4PF
ME12 4AF
ME12 4AL
ME12 4AW
ME12 4PU
ME12 4NP
ME12 4AQ
ME12 4PQ
ME12 4NT
ME12 4AN
ME12 4SA
ME12 4PW
ME12 4AG
ME12 4PE
ME12 4AP
ME12 4NR
ME12 4NU
ME12 4SB
ME12 4PN
ME12 4LW
ME12 4NS
ME12 4SE
ME12 4NX
ME12 4PT
ME12 4SD
ME12 4RX
ME12 4NW
ME12 4NY
ME12 4JG
ME12 4YA
ME12 4EB
ME12 4DB
ME12 4HL
ME12 4LA
ME12 4HH
ME12 4PP
ME12 4NZ
ME12 4AR
ME12 4PD
ME12 4AH
ME12 4PL
ME12 4AJ
ME12 4PA
ME12 4PB
ME12 4PJ
ME12 4AS
ME12 4JZ
ME12 4PH
ME12 4RJ
ME12 4BA
ME12 4BB
ME12 4HF
ME12 4HG
ME12 4HD
ME12 4HB
ME12 4HE
ME12 4BS
ME12 4RL
ME12 4BD
ME12 4HA
ME12 4EY
ME12 4EX
ME12 4EU
ME12 4RP
ME12 4ET
ME12 4ES
ME12 4BX
ME12 4ER
ME12 4BG
ME12 4EN
ME12 4EW
ME12 4DD
ME12 4JR
ME12 4AT
ME12 4EP
ME12 4DA
ME12 4JW
ME12 4JP
ME12 4DT
ME12 4JS
ME12 4BL
ME12 4JT
ME12 4DW
ME12 4BN
ME12 4JN
ME12 4BZ
ME12 4JU
ME12 4BT
ME12 4BH
ME12 4BW
ME12 4BP
ME12 4EJ
ME12 4BU
ME12 4DE
ME12 4DG
ME12 4EH
ME12 4DP
ME12 4EF
ME12 4DU
ME12 4AY
ME12 4AX
ME12 4DS
ME12 4JL
ME12 4DF
ME12 4DQ
ME12 4DH
ME12 4BQ
ME12 4DJ
ME12 4DX
ME12 4DL
ME12 4DY
ME12 4AA
ME12 4HN
ME12 4DZ
ME12 4BF
ME12 4HJ
ME12 4BE

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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