How much is an MOT?
The most a test centre in Great Britain can charge for a car MOT is £54.85. Many charge less, so it's worth shopping around. In Northern Ireland, the DVA charges £38.
Maximum MOT fees in Great Britain
| Vehicle | Class | Maximum fee |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle (engine up to 200cc) | 1 | £29.65 |
| Motorcycle with sidecar (engine up to 200cc) | 1 | £37.80 |
| Motorcycle (engine over 200cc) | 2 | £29.65 |
| Motorcycle with sidecar (engine over 200cc) | 2 | £37.80 |
| 3-wheeled vehicle (up to 450kg unladen) | 3 | £37.80 |
| 3-wheeled vehicle (over 450kg unladen) | 4 | £54.85 |
| Car (up to 8 passenger seats) | 4 | £54.85 |
| Motor caravan | 4 | £54.85 |
| Quad (max unladen 400kg, goods 550kg, max net power 15kW) | 4 | £54.85 |
| Dual purpose vehicle | 4 | £54.85 |
| Private hire or public service vehicle (up to 8 seats) | 4 | £54.85 |
| Ambulance or taxi | 4 | £54.85 |
| Private passenger vehicle or ambulance (9 to 12 seats) | 4 | £57.30 |
| Goods vehicle (up to 3,000kg design gross weight) | 4 | £54.85 |
| Class 4 vehicle (9 to 12 seats) with seat belt installation check | 4a | £64.00 |
| Private passenger vehicle or ambulance (13 to 16 seats) | 5 | £59.55 |
| Private passenger vehicle or ambulance (more than 16 seats) | 5 | £80.65 |
| Playbus | 5 | £80.65 |
| Class 5 vehicle (13 to 16 seats) with seat belt installation check | 5a | £80.50 |
| Class 5 vehicle (more than 16 seats) with seat belt installation check | 5a | £124.50 |
| Petrol, diesel or hybrid goods vehicle (over 3,000kg up to 3,500kg) | 7 | £58.60 |
| Zero emission goods vehicle (3,501kg to 4,250kg) | 7 | £58.60 |
From GOV.UK. These are the most a test centre can charge. You don't pay VAT on the fee.
MOT fees in Northern Ireland
| Vehicle | Full test | Retest |
|---|---|---|
| Class I and II motorcycle | £34.00 | £29.50 |
| Class III light motor vehicle | £38.00 | £29.50 |
| Class IV motor car | £38.00 | £29.50 |
| Light goods vehicle, 3,500kg or less | £38.00 | £29.50 |
| Class V large passenger vehicle | £70.50 | £38.00 |
| Class VI minibus, 9 to 16 seats | £70.50 | £38.00 |
| Duplicate MOT certificate | £10.00 | – |
From nidirect. Tests in Northern Ireland are done at DVA test centres. If you miss a test without giving at least one clear day's notice, you lose the fee.
Retests in Great Britain
- Leave the vehicle at the test centre for repair and have it retested within 10 working days: there's no fee for the partial retest.GOV.UK
- Take it away and bring it back to the same centre by the end of the next working day: no fee if the failure was only on listed items, such as lamps, mirrors, wipers, tyres, seat belts (not anchorages), the horn and registration plates.GOV.UK
- Take it away for repair and bring it back within 10 working days for other items: you may be charged a partial retest fee.GOV.UK
- In all other cases it's a full retest at the full fee.GOV.UK
Common questions
How much is an MOT for a car?
In Great Britain the maximum is £54.85 for a car with up to 8 passenger seats. Test centres can't charge more than that. In Northern Ireland the DVA fee for a car is £38.
How much is a motorcycle MOT?
Up to £29.65 in Great Britain, or £37.80 with a sidecar. In Northern Ireland it's £34.
Is there VAT on an MOT?
No. You don't pay VAT on the MOT fee.
Do I pay again for a retest?
Not if you leave the vehicle at the test centre for repair and it's retested within 10 working days. You also won't pay again if you take it back to the same centre by the end of the next working day for certain items. Otherwise it's a full fee.
Check your MOT
Mileage check
Every MOT reading on a chart, and a warning if it ever went down.
When is my MOT due?
Your due date, the earliest day to test, and a calendar reminder.
MOT results explained
Dangerous, major, minor and advisory, and what each means for you.
What the MOT checks
The nine areas of the test, from brakes to emissions.
MOT test centres
Every approved test centre in Great Britain, by postcode and town.
MOTs in Northern Ireland
Test centres, booking, changing a test and fees.
Sources
Checked 14 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@motmileage.co.uk.