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- When to get an MOT
- MOT costs
- How the MOT test works
- MOT test result
- Passing the MOT
- Failing the MOT
- Driving a vehicle that’s failed its MOT
- Retest after a MOT repair
- Leaving your vehicle for MOT repair
- Taking your vehicle away for MOT repairs
- Taking it back for a retest the next working day
- Taking it back for a retest within 10 working days
When to get an MOT
The MOT test checks that your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards.
You must get an MOT for your vehicle by either:
- the third anniversary of its registration
- the anniversary of its last MOT, if it’s over 3 years old
MOT costs
There’s a maximum amount MOT test stations can charge. This depends on the type of vehicle.
The maximum fee for a car is £54.85 and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle.
You do not pay VAT on the fee.
| CLASS | VEHICLE TYPE | AGE FIRST MOT NEEDED (YEARS) | MAXIMUM MOT FEE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle (engine size up to 200cc) | 3 | £29.65 |
| 1 | Motorcycle with sidecar (engine size up to 200cc) | 3 | £37.80 |
| 2 | Motorcycle (engine size over 200cc) | 3 | £29.65 |
| 2 | Motorcycle with sidecar (engine size over 200cc) | 3 | £37.80 |
| 3 | 3-wheeled vehicles (up to 450kg unladen weight) | 3 | £37.80 |
| 4 | 3-wheeled vehicles (over 450kg unladen weight) | 3 | £54.85 |
| 4 | Cars (up to 8 passenger seats) | 3 | £54.85 |
| 4 | Motor caravans | 3 | £54.85 |
| 4 | Quads (max unladen weight 400kg – for goods vehicles 550kg and max net power of 15kw) | 3 | £54.85 |
| 4 | Dual purpose vehicles | 3 | £54.85 |
| 4 | Private hire and public service vehicles (up to 8 seats) | 3 | £54.85 |
| 4 | Ambulances and taxis | 1 | £54.85 |
| 4 | Private passenger vehicles and ambulances (9 to 12 passenger seats) | 1 | £57.30 |
| 4 | Goods vehicles (up to 3,000kg design gross weight) | 3 | £54.85 |
| 4a | Class 4 vehicles (9 to 12 passenger seats) with a seat belt installation check | n/a | £64 |
| 5 | Private passenger vehicles and ambulances (13 to 16 passenger seats) | 1 | £59.55 |
| 5 | Private passenger vehicles and ambulances (more than 16 passenger seats) | 1 | £80.65 |
| 5 | Playbuses | 1 | £80.65 |
| 5a | Class 5 vehicles (13 to 16 passenger seats) with a seatbelt installation check | n/a | £80.50 |
| 5a | Class 5 vehicles (more than 16 passenger seats) with a seatbelt installation check | n/a | £124.50 |
| 7 | Goods vehicles (over 3,000kg up to 3,500kg design gross weight) | 3 | £58.60 |
How the MOT test works
During the MOT, important parts on your vehicle will be checked to make sure they meet the legal standards.
You can watch the test from a viewing area but you’re not allowed to interrupt the tester.
MOT test result
Your vehicle can either pass or fail the MOT.
Passing the MOT
If your vehicle passes the MOT:
- you’ll get an MOT certificate from the test centre
- it will be recorded in the MOT database
You might also get a list of ‘minor’ or ‘advisory’ problems to monitor or fix in the future.
Failing the MOT
Your vehicle will fail if the test result lists ‘dangerous’ or ‘major’ problems with your vehicle. You might not be allowed to drive until you fix the problems.
You might also get a list of ‘minor’ or ‘advisory’ problems to monitor or fix in the future.
If your vehicle fails the MOT:
- you’ll get a ‘refusal of an MOT test certificate’ from the test centre
- it will be recorded in the MOT database
You can appeal the result if you think it’s wrong.
Driving a vehicle that’s failed its MOT
You can take your vehicle away if:
- your current MOT certificate is still valid
- no ‘dangerous’ problems were listed in the MOT
Otherwise, you’ll need to get it repaired before you can drive.
If you can take your vehicle away, it must still meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness at all times.
You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get 3 penalty points for driving a vehicle that has failed its MOT because of a ‘dangerous’ problem.
Retest after a MOT repair
In some cases your vehicle can have a partial retest for free or a reduced MOT fee.
Leaving your vehicle for MOT repair
You only need a partial retest if you leave the vehicle at the test centre for repair and it’s retested within 10 working days. There’s no fee for this.
Taking your vehicle away for MOT repairs
You can take your vehicle away if your MOT certificate is still valid.
If your MOT has run out you can take your vehicle to:
- have the failed defects fixed
- a pre-arranged MOT test appointment
In both cases, your vehicle still needs to meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness at all times or you can be fined.
Taking it back for a retest the next working day
You will not have to pay again if you take it back to the same test centre before the end of the next working day for a partial retest on one or more of these 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 does not 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)
Taking it back for a retest within 10 working days
You’ll only need a partial retest if you take the vehicle from the test centre for repairs and take it back within 10 working days. You can be charged a partial retest fee for this
