Are you wondering “how much is an MOT these days”? We thought we’d give you the low-down on the costs behind getting your vehicle MOT’d in the UK, as well as give some advice on when you should get your MOT and some general facts behind MOTs within this article.
Can MOT centres charge what they like?
There’s a common misconception that MOT centres are allowed to charge whatever they like for an MOT. Well that’s not true. The government have set a maximum amount that MOT test stations can charge which depends on the vehicle type. Basically put the maximum fee for a car MOT is £54.85 and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle – note that no VAT is charged on an MOT currently. However, this means that some MOT stations can charge less which is why you’ll see fluctuating costs between MOT centres as they vie for your custom. You can see a table of the maximum MOT costs depending on your vehicle below.
| Class | Vehicle type | Age first MOT needed (years) | Maximum MOT cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Above table was taken from https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/mot-test-fees – correct as of 12th August 2016.
MOT retest fee
Whilst there are maximum costs behind a full MOT test, retesting is left up to each MOT test centre to decide on costs. Usually you’ll find most MOT centres will either include a free retest within 1 week, or charge a reduced MOT fee. Therefore it’s best to ask them first before you choose an MOT test centre what the costs are should you need to have a retest.
Knowing your MOT anniversary
Did you know you can MOT your car a month before the MOT anniversary date? That means you don’t have to wait until the day before to get the MOT test done, which gives you time to make any repairs you may need. To find your MOT anniversary date simply look at your current MOT certificate and it will clearly state the date when you can test your car again. This should give you more time to schedule it in and not be rushed in getting the MOT.
How can I find an MOT station near me?
If Google doesn’t present you with the right results, then there are several websites which can locate an MOT test centre. The following websites should be of help:
Can MCM Garage provide an MOT in Bath?
Yes, we currently provide MOTs for all of our customers in Bath. We will also soon be opening an MOT centre within our current garage to help speed up the process of getting an MOT and offer costs on repairs. If you’re interested in getting an MOT with us, please call us on 01761 415 501 or contact us for an MOT quote in Bath.