How Much Does an MOT Cost?

A Ministry of Transport test, more commonly known as an MOT test, must be carried out every year once your vehicle is three years old. It consists of a number of checks on your vehicle to ensure that it’s roadworthy, and most importantly, safe for you and other road users.

However, with most of us feeling the pinch as living costs continue to rise, any additional expense needs to be carefully planned for. Here, we’ll go into detail about how much your MOT will cost, so you’re fully informed and able to plan it into your budget – without breaking the bank.

What is the typical cost of an MOT?

The UK Government puts a cap on how much garages are allowed to charge for an MOT. As of June 2024, the maximum MOT test fee for a car is £54.85. MOTs for larger vehicles can be more expensive – for example, a Class 5 vehicle with more than 16 seats is capped at £124.50. You can find the maximum MOT test fee for your vehicle type on the Government website.

The good news is, here at Vasstech our MOT services start from just £45 – a great saving on the Government’s recommended MOT price.

Class 4 MOT cost

A class 4 MOT is a standard MOT, carried out on most passenger vehicles including cars, caravans, ambulances and taxis. The maximum cost for most class 4 MOTs is set by the Government at between ​​£54.85 and £64, depending on the vehicle. Cars and motor caravans are at the lower end of this range, whereas larger vehicles with up to 12 seats are more expensive.

At Vasstech, our Class 4 MOT service starts from just £45. A class 4 MOT on an electric vehicle is even more competitive, starting from £40.

Class 7 MOT cost

A class 7 MOT is carried out on large goods vehicles over 3000kg. The maximum fee allowed by the Government for a class 7 MOT test is £58.60.

At Vasstech, a class 7 MOT starts from £55, saving you money when you need your lorry or truck tested – even more important if you have a fleet of vehicles that need to be kept compliant.

What additional costs are associated with an MOT?

Hopefully, everything will go smoothly with your MOT and it will pass with flying colours. However, it’s important to remember that things don’t always go according to plan and there is a chance that your vehicle could fail its MOT.

If this happens, you’ll need to have repair work carried out on your vehicle to repair any defects before you’re allowed to drive it away from the garage. There will be additional costs here, so it’s a good idea to budget for any work that may need to be done following the MOT.

Costs for this will vary depending on the work that needs to be carried out. You may need to pay for parts, and you’ll need to pay the mechanic for their time – so it’s important to choose a reputable garage, so you know you’re not getting ripped off. Your mechanic will be able to advise and give you a quote for the work before it’s done, allowing you to plan for the costs.

How much does an MOT retest cost?

If your vehicle does fail its MOT, it will need to be retested once the repairs have been carried out.

If you leave your car at the testing centre for repair, and the retest is carried out within 10 working days of the original, there’s no charge for this.

If your previous MOT is still valid, you may have the option to take your vehicle away from the testing centre. If you take it back to the same test centre before the end of the next working day, there is no charge for the retest. If the retest is carried out within 10 working days of the original, but after the first working day, then you may need to pay a partial test fee. The current maximum fee for this is half of the original test fee.

What is the cost of an MOT and service together?

At Vasstech, we offer a handy MOT and service package, meaning you can have your annual MOT and service carried out at the same time. Not only does this save you time, it also saves you money. Exact prices will vary – depending on your vehicle, the findings of the service and MOT, and the prices of any new parts required – but combining your service and MOT together will bring your overall cost down.

Having a service at the same time as an MOT also reduces the risk of your vehicle failing the MOT. Small things like a broken bulb could result in an MOT failure, but we’ll take care of that as part of the service – making your trip to the garage both more cost effective and efficient.

Ready to book your annual MOT?

Although an MOT test can seem pricey, it’s nothing compared to the cost of skipping it. If you’re caught driving a vehicle without a valid MOT, you could be fined up to £2000; even worse, you could be putting yourself or others at risk by driving an unsafe vehicle.

Get in touch with your local Vasstech garage and book your next MOT today – we’ll keep you safely on the road.