How much is an MOT is a really popular Google search. Paying for an MOT is an annual expense that most drivers have to bear. However, you may worry about incurring additional expenses if your vehicle requires costly repairs. This article will detail the expenses associated with getting an MOT and provide tips on how you can reduce your costs.
How much might I be charged for a MOT test in total?
How much is a MOTThe DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) sets the price for the MOT test. The highest fee that a garage can legally charge for an MOT is £54.85. However, for vans (up to 3500kg) the fee is £58.60, and for motorcycles, it is £29.65.
Cost of a MOT Retest
If your vehicle fails its MOT, it will need to undergo a retest once the required repairs have been carried out. The cost of the retest will depend on various factors. If the repairs are done within 10 days by the same garage where the initial test was conducted, you may be eligible for a free MOT retest.
However, if you take the vehicle to a different garage for repairs and then return it to the original garage for the retest, you will be charged a reduced fee, which cannot exceed half of the original MOT fee. Some garages may charge even less for a partial retest. If you do not meet the criteria for a free or partial retest, such as waiting for more than 10 days or going to a different garage, you will have to pay the full MOT fee again, making it important to act promptly.
MOT vs Full MOT Test
It’s important to note that the cost of an MOT is not fixed, as it only covers the test itself. Any necessary repairs and parts will be additional costs, which can vary greatly. The price can range from a simple replacement of a £5 lightbulb to a more expensive repair, such as replacing brake pads which could cost a few hundred pounds. The final cost is dependent on the outcome of the test and the required repairs.
How Can I Lower the Cost of My MOT?
How Can I Lower the Cost of My MOT?
As we mentioned earlier, the maximum legal charge for an MOT is £54.85, but some garages may offer lower prices or deals. To compare prices in your local area, you can use our free booking tool. Simply enter your vehicle registration number and postcode to get started.
However, be cautious of extremely cheap MOT prices. Unfortunately, some garages may entice you with a £10 MOT but then overcharge you for costly and possibly unnecessary repairs. It’s important to do your research and read honest reviews from real customers when searching for a discount on your MOT. Our website provides these reviews to help you make an informed decision on the best garage for you.
Do I Need A Service Together With My MOT?
Garages often offer discounts on MOTs when you book a car service simultaneously, which can save you money in the long run. Regular car servicing has several benefits, such as improving car efficiency, lowering running costs, increasing vehicle worth, and extending car lifespan.
Additionally, servicing ensures the safety of yourself and other road users. By booking your service and MOT together, you save time and reduce the chances of forgetting one. Passing an MOT only confirms the car’s safety, not its condition, and getting your car serviced after an MOT improves its safety, efficiency, and reliability.
What Is Pre MOT Check?
What Is Pre MOT Check?
A pre-MOT check is a check of a vehicle’s key components that is carried out before its annual MOT test. The purpose of this check is to identify any potential issues that may prevent the vehicle from passing its MOT and to address them before the actual MOT test. A pre-MOT check typically includes an examination of the vehicle’s lights, brakes, tyres, suspension, steering, and emissions. By identifying and repairing any problems before the MOT test, the vehicle owner can avoid failing the test and incurring additional expenses for repairs and a retest.
Summary about MOT Cost
The maximum cost for a car’s MOT is £54.85, while a motorcycle MOT costs £29.65, and VAT is not charged on this fee. However, private passenger vehicles and vehicles with over 9 seats may cost more. You can find detailed information on the GOV website.
The average price of an MOT test
The cost of an MOT test varies depending on the type of vehicle being tested, and is regulated by the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The maximum fee that can be charged for a car is £54.85 and for a standard motorcycle is £29.65 in 2021. You can find a complete list of fees on the GOV.UK website.
MOT repair costs on average
MOT repair costs on average
The cost of repair depends on the specific issues that caused the fail. Some common faults, such as a blown bulb or low windscreen wiper fluid, can be fixed quickly and inexpensively. In fact, you may even be able to replace the bulb yourself for less than £5.
Another easy fix is making sure your car is clean, as a dirty car can also cause an MOT fail. Simply spend half an hour washing your car with hot water and soap, and you can avoid this embarrassing reason for failure.
For more tips on how to pass your MOT, check out our website. However, if you have both cheap and more expensive issues to repair, the average cost of an MOT repair bill is around £272, as reported by the Express. This means that including the £54.85 MOT fee, you could end up paying a total of £326.85.
MOT retest costs on average
If your vehicle fails an MOT and you leave it with the test centre for repair, you will not need to get a full MOT done. Instead, you will only need to have the part of the MOT that your vehicle failed on retested. This is called a partial retest, and as long as it is done within 10 working days of the initial MOT, it is free of charge.
Alternatively, you could take your vehicle away for repairs and return before the end of the next working day for a free retest. If you choose to return to the same test centre within 10 working days for a partial retest, it will not be free, but it will be offered at a reduced rate. Currently, the maximum amount you should be charged for a partial retest is half the original MOT fee.
MOT retest duration
The duration of a full MOT for a car is typically between 45 and 60 minutes. For smaller vehicles such as motorcycles, it could be shorter, taking around 30 minutes, while larger vehicles like multi-seat vans or lorries may take longer.
The duration of an MOT retest varies depending on what needs to be retested. Usually, only one or two items require rechecking, so a retest can be completed in under 15 minutes. However, if more complicated items require retesting or multiple repairs need to be done, it may take longer.
Partial retests usually take less time than a full MOT. However, it’s important to note that test centres have their own schedules, and just because your vehicle can be checked in 10 minutes doesn’t mean the centre will get to it immediately. As a result, you may still be without your vehicle for the day of the retest.
How much a fine from a MOT will cost you
How much a fine from a MOT will cost you
Although repair bills can be expensive, the real costs associated with MOTs are the fines that you could face. There are a few scenarios in which you could be fined:
Firstly, if you forget to get your vehicle MOT’d on time, and therefore drive a vehicle without a valid MOT, you could be fined up to £1000. Apart from the safety concerns, you should try to avoid this situation by using the government’s free reminder tool, which will send you a text message when your MOT is due.
Driving a vehicle without a valid MOT can also invalidate your insurance, resulting in a fixed penalty of £300 and six penalty points on your licence. In the worst-case scenario, if your case goes to court, the fine can be unlimited, and you could be disqualified from driving.
The only exception to this rule is if you are driving a roadworthy vehicle to have the faults fixed or to take it to a pre-booked MOT.
