How much does an MOT cost?
The maximum a test centre in Great Britain can charge for a car MOT is £54.85. A motorcycle MOT is capped at £29.65. These are maximums set by DVSA, not fixed prices, so many garages charge less. In Northern Ireland, where tests are done by the DVA, a car MOT costs £38.00.
Maximum MOT fees in Great Britain
| Class | Vehicle | Maximum fee |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorcycle up to 200cc | £29.65 |
| 1 | Motorcycle with sidecar up to 200cc | £37.80 |
| 2 | Motorcycle over 200cc | £29.65 |
| 2 | Motorcycle with sidecar over 200cc | £37.80 |
| 3 | 3-wheeled vehicle up to 450 kg unladen | £37.80 |
| 4 | Car (up to 8 passenger seats) | £54.85 |
| 4 | Motor caravan | £54.85 |
| 4 | Taxi or ambulance | £54.85 |
| 4 | Goods vehicle up to 3,000 kg | £54.85 |
| 4 | 3-wheeled vehicle over 450 kg unladen | £54.85 |
| 4 | Passenger vehicle or ambulance with 9 to 12 passenger seats | £57.30 |
| 4a | Class 4 with 9 to 12 seats and a seat belt installation check | £64.00 |
| 5 | Passenger vehicle with 13 to 16 passenger seats | £59.55 |
| 5 | Passenger vehicle with more than 16 passenger seats, or playbus | £80.65 |
| 5a | Class 5 (13 to 16 seats) with a seat belt installation check | £80.50 |
| 5a | Class 5 (more than 16 seats) with a seat belt installation check | £124.50 |
| 7 | Goods vehicle 3,001 to 3,500 kg (petrol, diesel or hybrid) | £58.60 |
| 7 | Zero-emission goods vehicle 3,501 to 4,250 kg | £58.60 |
VAT is not added to these fees. Source: GOV.UK MOT test fees.
MOT fees in Northern Ireland
| Vehicle class | Full test | Retest |
|---|---|---|
| Class I and II motor bicycles | £34.00 | £29.50 |
| Class III light motor vehicle | £38.00 | £29.50 |
| Class IV motor car and heavy motor car | £38.00 | £29.50 |
Source: NI Direct. Miss your NI appointment or cancel without one clear day's notice and you lose the fee.
Why do some garages charge less than the maximum?
Garages are free to charge anything up to the maximum. Many offer cheaper MOTs, or bundle a free MOT with a service, because the test brings in repair and servicing work. A cheap MOT is not a worse test: every test centre must follow the same MOT inspection manual, and testers are trained and authorised by DVSA.
Be wary of very cheap MOTs combined with high-pressure selling of repairs. You are never obliged to have repairs done at the test centre. You can take the car elsewhere, as long as it is legal to drive (see below).
Retest costs
| Situation | Cost |
|---|---|
| Car left at the test centre for repair, retested within 10 working days | Free partial retest |
| Returned to the same centre by the end of the next working day, for certain items only | Free partial retest |
| Taken away and returned within 10 working days | Partial retest fee may be charged |
| Any other case | Full MOT fee again |
See our MOT retest rules guide for the list of items that qualify for a free next-day retest.
How much do MOT repairs cost?
The test fee is usually the smallest part of the bill. Repair costs depend entirely on what fails. Common cheap fixes include bulbs, wiper blades, washer fluid and headlamp alignment. More expensive fails include tyres, brake discs and pads, suspension springs and arms, and structural corrosion repairs.
The best way to keep costs down is to fix last year's advisories before the next test. Check them in seconds with our MOT history check.
Ways to save money on your MOT
- Do the simple checks yourself first: lights, tyres, wipers, washer fluid, horn and warning lights.
- Compare prices: many garages charge well under the £54.85 maximum.
- Test up to a month (minus a day) early in Great Britain. You keep the same renewal date, and you have time to shop around for repairs.
- Get a written quote for any repairs and compare it with another garage.
- If your car fails, check whether it qualifies for a free retest before taking it away.
What affects the price you pay
- Vehicle class: cars, motorcycles, larger passenger vehicles and heavier vans have different maximum fees.
- Where you test: independent garages, dealers, fast-fit chains and council test centres all set their own prices up to the maximum.
- Bundles: some garages include a free or discounted MOT with a service.
- Timing: prices can be lower on quieter days, and garages sometimes discount when they want to fill the workshop.
Council MOT test centres
Some local councils run their own MOT test centres, mainly for council vehicles, taxis and private hire cars, and some also test the public's cars. Because councils do not usually carry out repairs, some drivers use them for an independent test. Check your local council's website to see whether it offers public MOTs.
To compare prices near you, search our MOT test centre directory. It lists every DVSA-approved garage with its phone number and the vehicle classes it tests.
Is a cheap MOT a bad MOT?
No. Every authorised test centre must follow the same DVSA inspection manual, and the result is recorded on the same national database. What can differ is what happens after a fail: some garages discount the test because they expect to earn on repairs. Get a written quote and, if it seems high, compare it with another garage before agreeing to work.
MOT cost and the free retest
The cheapest way through a failed MOT is usually to leave the car at the test centre for repair and have it retested within 10 working days, which is free. If you take it away, check first whether your failure items qualify for a free retest when you return by the end of the next working day. See our retest rules guide.