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MOT Cost UK: Fees by Vehicle Class
The cost of an MOT in the UK is up to £54.85 for a car, the DVSA legal maximum, but most garages charge £30-45. The DVSA sets a different maximum fee for every vehicle class. Here is the complete fee schedule alongside what UK garages typically charge in practice.
How much does an MOT cost in the UK?
The maximum a car (Class 4) MOT can cost in the UK is £54.85, the DVSA cap unchanged since 2010. Most garages charge £30-45, with promotional deals from £20-30. The fee is VAT-exempt and excludes any repairs. Each vehicle class has its own cap:
Class 4 car
£54.85
Cars, light vans, motorhomes
Class 1/2 motorcycle
£29.65
Bikes, mopeds, scooters
Class 7 large van
£58.60
Goods vehicles 3-3.5t
Class 5 minibus
£59.55-80.65
By seat count
What is the average cost of an MOT?
There is no official average MOT price. The DVSA publishes a maximum and nothing else: £54.85 for a Class 4 car, £29.65 for a motorcycle and £58.60 for a Class 7 van. It does not collect or publish what garages actually charge, so every average MOT cost figure in circulation comes from private booking platforms rather than from government statistics, and each one measures a different mix of bookings.
Two things pull those averages well below the cap. Garages are free to charge anything under it and most do, and a large share of MOTs are booked alongside a service, where the test is discounted to win the servicing work. A standalone walk-in test sits closer to the maximum than a bundled one. For budgeting, treat £54.85 as the ceiling for a car and anything below it as the garage competing for your business.
Source: DVSA maximum MOT test fees (gov.uk), checked 7 September 2026. See the platform average figures and how they are measured.
DVSA Maximum Fees vs Typical Charges
| Vehicle type | DVSA class | Max legal fee | Typical charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car (up to 3,000kg) | Class 4 | £54.85 | £30-45 |
| Motorcycle (over 200cc) | Class 2 | £29.65 | £20-29 |
| Motorcycle (up to 200cc) | Class 1 | £29.65 | £20-29 |
| Motorcycle with sidecar | Sidecar | £37.80 | £25-35 |
| Van (up to 3,000kg) | Class 4 | £54.85 | £35-50 |
| Van (3,000-3,500kg) | Class 7 | £58.60 | £40-55 |
| Minibus (13-16 seats) | Class 5 | £59.55 | £50-59 |
| Minibus / coach (17+ seats) | Class 5 | £80.65 | £68-80 |
| Motor caravan | Class 4 | £54.85 | £35-50 |
| 3-wheeled vehicle (over 450kg) | Class 4 | £54.85 | £35-50 |
| 3-wheeled vehicle (up to 450kg) | Class 3 | £37.80 | £28-37 |
| Ambulance / Taxi | Class 4 | £54.85 | £40-54 |
Why Do Garages Charge Less Than the Maximum?
The MOT is one of the most reliable footfall drivers in the motor trade. Every car over 3 years old needs one every year, which means a guaranteed stream of customers. Garages use below-cost MOT pricing as a loss leader strategy: the cheap test gets your car onto their ramp, and the real revenue comes from any repair work discovered during the inspection.
The cheapest verified chain headline price in June 2026 is F1 Autocentres from £35; Halfords lists from £49.99 and Kwik Fit at the cap. The deepest discounts now come from independent garages and comparison platforms, where £20-30 deals remain common in competitive areas.
This is not a scam. It is standard business practice across the motor trade. The important thing is to be aware that a cheap MOT is not the full story. If your car fails, the same garage will quote you for repairs, and you have the right to take your car elsewhere for a second opinion. See our guide on what happens when you fail for more on this.
Regional MOT Pricing Across the UK
London
£40-55High overheads and strong demand mean many garages charge at or near the maximum. Central London garages are the most expensive in the country.
South East
£35-50Slightly below London but still above average. Commuter belt garages benefit from high demand. Competition in larger towns helps keep prices in check.
Midlands
£30-45A middle ground. Urban areas like Birmingham and Nottingham have strong competition. Rural areas tend to charge slightly more due to fewer options.
North of England
£25-40Some of the cheapest MOTs in the UK. Cities like Leeds, Manchester, and Newcastle have intense garage competition. Deals under £30 are common.
Scotland
£30-45Similar to the Midlands. Edinburgh and Glasgow are competitive; remote Highland garages tend to be pricier due to distance and fewer alternatives.
Wales
£30-45Broadly similar to the Midlands. Cardiff and Swansea offer competitive pricing. Rural mid-Wales is more limited.
Northern Ireland
£38 fixedMOTs are handled by the DVA (Driver & Vehicle Agency), not private garages. The statutory Class IV car fee is £38.00 at all 15 government-run test centres, with a £29.50 retest. Source: nidirect vehicle test fees, verified 6 September 2026.
VAT and Hidden Costs
VAT on the MOT test fee
The MOT test fee is VAT-exempt. The price you see is the price you pay. This is a legal requirement set by HMRC. If a garage tries to add VAT to the test fee, they are overcharging you.
VAT on repairs
Any repair work carried out as a result of the MOT is subject to 20% VAT. This applies to both parts and labour. If a garage quotes you £200 for repairs, check whether that figure includes VAT or whether it will be added on top.
Other potential charges
Some garages charge a separate diagnostic fee (£20-50) if they need to investigate an issue more thoroughly. Others may charge a small fee for brake cleaning or wheel removal to inspect pads. These should always be disclosed and agreed before work begins. You are never obligated to accept them.
Free MOT Retest Rules
If your car fails its MOT, you may be entitled to a free or reduced-cost retest. The rules depend on where and when you get the car repaired:
| Scenario | Retest cost | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| Leave car at the test centre for repair | Free (partial retest) | Within 10 working days |
| Take car away, return for retest on listed items only (lamps, wipers, tyres, seatbelts, doors and similar) | Free (partial retest) | Before end of next working day |
| Take car away, return to same garage | Partial retest fee (garage sets it) | Within 10 working days |
| Different garage, or after 10 working days | Full fee (£30-55) | No time limit |
A partial retest only covers the items that originally failed. Source: the retest rules on gov.uk. Many garages waive the partial retest fee as a goodwill gesture, but they are not required to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of an MOT in the UK?
The cost of an MOT in the UK is up to £54.85 for a car (Class 4), the legal maximum set by the DVSA and unchanged since 2010. In practice most UK garages charge £30-45, and promotional or chain deals fall to £20-30. The fee is VAT-exempt and excludes any repairs needed to pass. Other vehicle classes have their own caps: £29.65 for a motorcycle, £58.60 for a large van (3,000-3,500kg) and £59.55-£80.65 for a minibus.
Is the cost of an MOT the same across the UK?
Across England, Scotland and Wales the maximum MOT cost for a car is £54.85, the same DVSA cap everywhere, with typical garage charges of £30-45. Northern Ireland is different: MOTs there are run by the DVA at 15 government-run test centres for a fixed £38. The GB cap has not changed since April 2010.
How much does an MOT cost?
The maximum an MOT test can cost for a car (Class 4) is £54.85, set by the DVSA and unchanged since 2010. Most UK garages charge less, typically £30-45, and promotional or chain deals fall to £20-30. The fee is VAT-exempt and does not include any repairs needed to pass. Other classes have their own caps: motorcycles £29.65, large vans £58.60, minibuses £59.55-£80.65.
How much is a Class 4 MOT?
A Class 4 MOT is capped at £54.85. Class 4 is the largest class and covers cars, motor caravans and light vans up to 3,000kg. Garages can charge less than the cap and most do, with typical Class 4 prices of £30-45.
How much is a Class 5 MOT?
A Class 5 MOT (private passenger vehicles and minibuses) is capped at £59.55 for 13-16 seats and £80.65 for more than 16 seats. With an added seatbelt installation check the vehicle moves to Class 5a, capped at £80.50-£124.50.
How much does a Class 7 MOT cost?
A Class 7 MOT is capped at £58.60. Class 7 covers goods vehicles between 3,000kg and 3,500kg, such as long-wheelbase Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter and Iveco Daily vans. Typical garage charges run £40-55.
What is the average cost of an MOT?
There is no official average MOT price. The DVSA publishes a maximum and nothing else: £54.85 for a Class 4 car, £29.65 for a motorcycle and £58.60 for a Class 7 van. It does not collect or publish what garages actually charge, so every average MOT cost figure in circulation comes from private booking platforms rather than from government statistics, and each one measures a different mix of bookings. Two things pull those averages down. Garages are free to charge anything below the cap and most do, and a large share of MOTs are booked alongside a service, where the test is discounted to win the servicing work. For budgeting, treat £54.85 as the ceiling for a car and anything below it as the garage competing for your business.
Does the MOT fee include VAT?
No. The MOT test fee is VAT-exempt, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay. Any repair work carried out after the test is subject to standard 20% VAT on both parts and labour.
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