What Should I Check Before An MOT?

There are a number of quick checks you can perform on your vehicle before taking it in for its MOT test. These include lighting & signalling, suspension, brakes & tyres.

We've put together a Pre-MOT check guide & video to help you check and avoid common MOT failures.

What Documents Do I Need For MOT?

In most cases, no documentation is required as our MOT testers will be able to find all the information they need within the DVSA database.

However, if your vehicle is undergoing its first MOT then please bring your V5C vehicle registration certificate. The same applies if you have changed the registration plate of your vehicle since its last MOT test.

When Can I Book My Car In For An MOT?

You can book your vehicle in for its MOT test up to one month, minus one day, in advance of its current MOT certificates expiry date. This will also preserve the existing anniversary of expiry.

This also means your MOT is effectively valid for 13 months.

How long does an MOT take?

An MOT test will typically take between 45 - 60 minutes to complete.

You are more than welcome to stay at our centre whilst the test is being carried out. The majority of our centres offer free coffee and Wi-Fi* so you can sit back and relax. Alternatively, you are free to leave the vehicle with us and the centre will give you a call once the test is complete.

After the test is complete if your vehicle has failed you will be made aware of any additional work that is required to make the vehicle roadworthy. This work will be at an additional cost and may not be able to take place on the same day as your MOT test depending on how busy the centre is and what work needs to be carried out.

*Free Coffee and Wi-Fi available at selected centres

Common MOT Failures You Can Avoid

Most MOT failures are caused by issues that are easy to identify and in many cases can be addressed at home, with lighting and signalling issues consistently being the most frequent area of MOT failure.

Watch our Pre-MOT Check Video

These were the five most common areas of MOT failure in 2014/15 according to the DVSA:

Lighting and signalling: 18.4% of all tests (5 million)

Suspension: 12% of failures (3.3 million)

Brakes: 9.6% of failures (2.6 million)

Tyres: 7.4% (2 million)

Obstructions to driver’s view of the road: 6.6% (1.8 million)

How Much Does An MOT Cost?

Our MOT prices vary from centre to centre, but if you book a Class 4 MOT test with us online, you will benefit from our exclusive online rate of just £29.99, a saving of £24.86, when compared to DVSA’s (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), recommended maximum price.

We also offer a Class 7 MOT test for only £39.99 online. a saving of £18.61, when compared to DVSA’s (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), recommended maximum price.

MOT Retests

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:

1. Have the failed defects fixed
2. A pre-arranged MOT test appointment
3. 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 won’t 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 doesn’t 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.

In all other cases, you’ll need to get a full retest and pay the full MOT test fee again.

Changes To MOT Tests in 2018

Changes to the MOT test came into force on the 20th May 2018. The changes include a number of new defect types and tighter rules for diesel emissions. Here’s an overview:

1. Defects will be categorised in a different way

Defects will be classified as either dangerous, major or minor:

Dangerous defects: A direct and immediate risk to road safety or has a serious impact on the environment. Do not drive the vehicle until it’s been repaired. Overall impact on MOT: Fail

Major defects: It may affect the vehicle’s safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment. Repair it immediately. Overall impact on MOT: Fail

Minor defects: No significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment. Repair as soon as possible. Overall impact on MOT: Pass

Advisory: It could become more serious in the future. Monitor and repair it if necessary. Overall impact on MOT: Pass

Pass: It meets the minimum legal standard. Make sure it continues to meet the standard. Overall impact on MOT: Pass

2. Changes to the rules for diesel emissions

There are stricter rules for diesel cars with a diesel particulate filter. A major fault will be recorded if smoke is seen to be coming from the exhaust, or if there is evidence that the filter has been tampered with.

3. Additional checks

New items will be tested during an MOT. This includes checking:

• If tyres are obviously underinflated
• If brake fluid has been contaminated
• For any fluid risks that could pose an environmental risk
• Brake pad warning lights, and if brake pads or discs are missing
• Reversing lights on vehicles first used on or after 1st September 2009
• Headlight washers on vehicles first used on or after 1st September 2009 (if applicable)
• Daytime running lights on vehicles first used on or after 1st March 2018

4. Changes to the MOT certificate

The design of the MOT test certificate has been updated to include all of the changes to the MOT process, including the additional checks and changes to defect classification.

5. Vehicle exemptions

Cars, vans, motorcycles and other light passenger vehicles won’t need to have an MOT from the 40th anniversary of their registration. You can double-check when your vehicle was first registered here: https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/.