MOT check
Check your MOT, free, in one tap
See when your MOT runs out, the full pass and fail history and the mileage at every test. We send you straight to the official government service. Your registration stays in your browser and is never sent to us or stored.
What it costs
The most you can be charged is fixed by law
The figures below are ceilings set by the government, not the price the garage decides. Many garages charge well under the cap, often £35 to £45 for a car, and plenty do a free or cut price retest if you bring the car back quickly. It is always worth ringing round.
| Vehicle | Maximum test fee | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Car (up to 8 seats) | £54.85 | the class most drivers pay; typical garage price is lower |
| Motorcycle | £29.65 | £37.80 with a sidecar |
| Van up to 3,000kg | £58.60 | the class 7 rate for larger vans |
| Full retest after repairs | up to the full fee | free or reduced if you return within ten working days and only a partial retest is needed |
Maximum fees set by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Checked 28 August 2026. A garage cannot charge more than the cap, but is free to charge less.
When it is due
The one month rule that saves you days
Check MOT history and MOT reminders are both free government services.
If you skip it
Driving without a valid MOT
It is against the law to drive a car on the road once its MOT has run out, apart from driving to a test you have already booked, or to and from a garage for repairs. The penalties are real.
What is checked
An MOT is a safety test, not a service
The test looks at the parts that keep you and other people safe: brakes, tyres, steering, suspension, lights, seatbelts, wipers and washers, the horn, the exhaust and emissions, and the structure of the car. It does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox for wear, so a car can pass and still need mechanical work. A separate service looks after that.
Advisory or fail, what is the difference?
An advisory is something the tester wants you to keep an eye on, like a tyre wearing low or a small oil leak; the car still passes. A fail lists defects that must be put right. If a defect is marked dangerous you must not drive the car away at all, even to another garage, until it is fixed.
Does my car need an MOT at all?
Cars less than three years old do not need one yet. Most vehicles first registered more than forty years ago are exempt, on a rolling basis, as long as they have not been substantially changed. If you are not sure, the free checker above shows whether an MOT is recorded against your registration.
What should I do before the test to avoid a fail?
A surprising share of fails are simple things you can check on the driveway: a blown bulb, worn wiper blades, an empty screenwash bottle, or under inflated or low tread tyres. Five minutes with the lights on and a walk around the car can save you a retest fee.
While you are here
We watch fuel prices so you do not have to
Petrol Tracker shows every forecourt near you ranked by price, updated twice a day, and can email you the moment the cheapest one drops. Free, no account, one click to stop.