Large Goods Vehicle MOT 2026: Class 7 £58.60 + HGV Test

Class 7 covers goods vehicles between 3,000kg and 3,500kg unladen. Common examples include the heavier Ford Transit configurations, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3.5t, Iveco Daily 3.5t, Renault Master 3.5t, Peugeot Boxer 3.5t, Vauxhall Movano 3.5t and Volkswagen Crafter 3.5t.

The test framework is the same conventional MOT inspection as Class 4 cars and lighter vans, taken at any DVSA-licensed MOT garage. The £4 fee difference (£54.85 to £58.60) reflects the slightly longer testing time and lift requirements for the heavier vehicle. Test is annual, with the first MOT required 3 years after first registration.

See /van-mot-cost for the Class 4 vs Class 7 weight-boundary detail and a list of common van models per class.

Vehicles above 3,500kg gross vehicle weight (GVW) leave the conventional MOT system. They are tested under the separate DVSA goods-vehicle annual test framework. Key differences from the consumer MOT:

• Test location. Tests happen at DVSA goods-vehicle testing stations or at Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs) operated by hauliers and large fleet centres under DVSA supervision. Not at high-street MOT garages.
• Test frequency. Annual, but the test schedule is anchored to the registration anniversary rather than the consumer-MOT 3-year-then-annual cadence.
• Fee structure. Fees are set by DVSA per testing station per vehicle category and are not capped under the consumer MOT fee schedule. Typical fees published by DVSA for HGV testing vary by axle count, vehicle type (rigid, articulated, trailer) and whether the test is at a DVSA station or an ATF.
• Operator licensing. Vehicles in this category are usually subject to operator licensing rules (O-licence) and have additional roadworthiness inspections, separate from the annual test.
• Inspection scope. The test scope expands to cover load-bearing structures, coupling assemblies (for tractor units), brake performance under load, tachograph compliance and tyre specification per axle.

The consumer-facing MOT and the goods-vehicle test are administered by the same agency (DVSA) but are legally distinct frameworks with different fee structures, test locations and inspection scope.

For the above-3,500kg annual test, the cost an operator pays has two parts: the statutory DVSA test fee (set by vehicle category and axle count) and the service charge the Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) can add for use of its lane. That ATF service charge is capped by DVSA. Following a consultation that closed in November 2025, DVSA made the first increase to these caps since 2010, in effect from Monday 6 July 2026.

This is the maximum service charge: ATFs are not required to charge it, and some waive it for their own fleets. The cap applies across England, Scotland and Wales. It does not affect Class 4 cars or Class 7 vans (3,000-3,500kg), whose statutory MOT fees stay at £54.85 and £58.60.

Source: DVSA consultation "Changes to HGV, bus and trailer MOT centre service charges" (gov.uk), confirmed without amendment; in effect from 6 July 2026. Verified 6 July 2026.

The conventional MOT inspection items are the same across Class 4 and Class 7. The areas where heavier vans typically draw extra attention:

• Load floor and bulkhead. Structural integrity of the load area, bulkhead securing, prescribed-area corrosion.
• Suspension. Heavier rear leaf springs and air-suspension components common on 3.5t-class vans receive close inspection.
• Brake performance. The brake force requirement scales with the vehicle weight; Class 7 brake-test deceleration thresholds are checked against the heavier weight.
• Tyre specification. Load index and speed rating must match or exceed the manufacturer specification for the loaded vehicle.