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MOT Test
only £39.00
The MOT Test is an Annual Inspection required by law in order ensure a vehicle is roadworthy.
You must get an MOT for your vehicle by either the third anniversary of its registration OR the date a year from its last MOT, if it’s over 3 years old.
The MOT Test covers many areas but should never be substituted for a service because it does NOT focus on the mechanical condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox.
Only an approved MOT centre can carry out MOT tests. These centres show a blue sign with three white triangles.
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 near me?
The next time you ask this question, just look for your nearest Rates – we’ll help!
An MOT is NOT the same as a service - it is NOT designed to check the mechanical condition, the MOT is designed primarily to examine the exterior and safety features of the vehicle. These are some of the important parts of your car that will be checked in the MOT.
The test does NOT cover the condition of the:
- engine
- clutch
- gearbox
For more details about the items covered see here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/car-parts-checked-at-an-mot/car-parts-checked-at-an-mot
For complete guidance in regards to MOTs please see the government guide here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/896961/MOT-testing-guide.pdf
Retest after a repair
In some cases your vehicle can have a partial retest for free or a reduced MOT fee.
Leaving your vehicle for 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 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.
There are some vehicles that do not need an MOT, these include:
- Goods vehicles powered by electricity and registered before 1 March 2015
- Tractors
- Some historic (‘classic’) vehicles
A list of exempt types of vehicles is on the MOT exemption form (V112). You need to fill in the form if your vehicle is listed so that you can either tax it or apply for tax exemption.
Lorries, buses and trailers
You must get an annual test for lorries, buses and trailers instead of an MOT. It’s sometimes called the ‘annual vehicle test’.
