How much is an MOT? Find out the cost of staying on the road
If your car is three years older or more, it’s going to need a Ministry of Transport test (MOT) every 12 months. What’s that going to set you back? Read on to find out the cost of your vehicle’s MOT.
How much will my car’s MOT cost?
Most drivers of regular cars will pay around £54.85 at most for an MOT. For motorbikes, it’s a maximum of £29.65. The price of an MOT depends on what vehicle you drive and its vehicle class.
Here’s how the cost breaks down for the most common vehicles MOT.
|
Vehicle |
Maximum MOT Cost |
Vehicle Class |
|
Motorbikes up to 200cc |
£29.65 |
1 |
|
Motorbikes with sidecars up to 200cc |
£37.80 |
1 |
|
Motorbikes over 200cc |
£29.65 |
2 |
|
Motorbikes with sidecars over 200cc |
£37.80 |
2 |
|
Three-wheeled vehicles up to 450kg |
£37.80 |
3 |
|
Three-wheeled vehicles over 450kg |
£54.85 |
4 |
|
Cars with up to eight passenger seats |
£54.85 |
4 |
|
Motor caravans |
£54.85 |
4 |
|
Quads up to 400kg (550kg and 15kw for goods vehicles) |
£54.85 |
4 |
|
Dual-purpose vehicles |
£54.85 |
4 |
|
Private hire and public service vehicles with up to eight seats |
£54.85 |
4 |
|
Ambulances and taxis |
£54.85 |
4 |
|
Private passenger vehicles and ambulances with 9-12 passenger seats |
£57.30 |
4 |
|
Goods vehicles up to 3,000kg |
£54.85 |
4 |
|
Any class 4 vehicle that needs a seatbelt installation check |
£64.00 |
4a |
|
Private passenger vehicles and ambulances with 13-16 passenger seats |
£59.55 |
5 |
|
Private passenger vehicles and ambulances with over 16 passenger seats |
£80.65 |
5 |
|
Playbuses |
£80.65 |
5 |
|
Any class 5 vehicle that needs a seatbelt installation check for 13-16 seats |
£80.50 |
5a |
|
Any class 5 vehicle that needs a seatbelt installation check for more than 16 seats |
£124.50 |
5a |
|
Goods vehicles 3,000-3,500kg |
£58.60 |
7 |
The GOV.UK website has more in-depth details of MOT prices, including how often each class of vehicle needs a test. As you can see, the overwhelming majority of vehicles you’ll end up driving fall under class 4 with a maximum MOT price of £54.85.
What’s involved in an MOT?
So, what are you getting for your money? What happens during an MOT? During the test, your vehicle gets inspected to make sure it meets UK safety standards. It doesn’t check your clutch, gearbox, or engine; those will be looked at as part of a service. But certain vital parts are given a visual inspection for wear and tear, including the:
• Vehicle identification number (VIN)
• License plates
• Fuel and exhaust systems
• Emission levels
• Towbars
• Seats
• Seatbelts
• Wheels and tyres
• Doors and mirrors
• Lights and electrics
• Bonnet and windscreen
• Windscreen washers and wipers
• Horn
• Suspension and steering
• Load security
• Overall physical condition
Getting your car ready for its MOT
If you maintain and regularly service your car, it’s going to have a better chance of passing its MOT. Its age and mileage are going to affect its condition, so older vehicles should get some extra care and attention when test time approaches.
There are some quick, easy checks you can carry out yourself the day before the MOT to boost your chances of a pass:
• Test your windscreen wipers and fill up on washing fluid
• Check your windscreen for chips, these can get worse the longer you leave them
• Give all your car’s lights a quick test
• Make sure your tyres are inflated and have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread on them
How long does an MOT take?
Assuming your car passes its MOT, the test takes around 45-60 minutes. While it’s happening, you can’t interrupt the engineer or the test in any way. Some garages provide a viewing area so you can observe. More usually, particularly at smaller independent garages, they’ll simply give you a call when they’re done.
The test might flag up some minor advisory issues for you to fix asap, but those won’t cause a fail; you can still drive away then and there. Only if your car fails its MOT will it take longer, and usually cost more.
In the event of a failure, the engineer might spot dangerous faults which need to be fixed on the spot. There’s no telling how much this might cost, it depends on the parts and labour needed to carry out repairs. For this reason, getting your car regularly serviced is a good idea.
Why does an MOT cost less than a service?
You might have noticed a common MOT (£54.85) is cheaper than a car service. These can range from £75 for an interim service to £400 or more for a full service. This is because an MOT and a service are two very different things. A service checks the overall condition of the vehicle, an MOT is only concerned with whether or not the vehicle is safe.
By law, most cars aged three years or more have to get an MOT every 12 months in order to stay roadworthy. There’s nothing forcing you to get a service, although it’s recommended. A service carries out dozens of checks that aren’t part of an MOT. This is more likely to spot issues before they become serious.
In the long run, getting your car serviced can save you money, particularly if you sign up to a service plan. The expense and hassle of breaking down and having to pay for parts unexpectedly can far outweigh the cost of servicing.
Can I skip the cost of an MOT?
UK law requires all cars aged three years and older to get an MOT every 12 months. This isn’t something you can choose not to pay. Driving with an expired MOT certificate can carry a fine of up to £1,000.
If your last MOT test found that your vehicle is dangerous, driving it without repairs can land you with a fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban, and three penalty points on your license.
During the pandemic, the UK government extended MOT expiry dates by six months on certificates due for renewal 30 March 2020 or later.
Find a Lookers MOT centre near you
We’ve helped thousands of UK drivers complete their MOT and get back on the road in no time. Our team are ready to help you stay on the road for less.
