How Much Is an MOT? 2026 Fees, Retests and Ways to Pay Less
How much is an MOT? For a car, the most a test centre can charge is £54.85, and for a motorbike it’s £29.65. Those are legal maximums set by the government, so many garages charge less. This guide lists the maximum fee for every vehicle, explains when a retest is free and shows how to keep the total cost down.
- Official GOV.UK maximum fees
- Every vehicle class
- Free retest rules explained
Updated · By Hamza Akram · Fees checked against GOV.UK
How much is an MOT in 2026?
Quick answer
The maximum MOT cost for a car is £54.85, and for a motorcycle it's £29.65. A van up to 3,000kg also pays up to £54.85, while a larger van up to 3,500kg pays up to £58.60. These caps haven't changed since 2010, and there's no VAT on the fee. Many test centres charge less to win your booking.
The MOT test itself is the same wherever you go. Every approved test centre follows the DVSA's inspection manual. So, a cheaper MOT isn't a worse MOT. What changes is the price of the test and of any repairs afterwards.
How much is an MOT for each vehicle? Maximum fees
The government sets the maximum fee for each class of vehicle, and GOV.UK publishes the full MOT test fees list. A test centre can charge less, but never more. Here's the full list:
| Vehicle | Class | Maximum MOT fee |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle (any engine size) | 1 or 2 | £29.65 |
| Motorcycle with sidecar | 1 or 2 | £37.80 |
| 3-wheeled vehicle up to 450kg unladen | 3 | £37.80 |
| Car (up to 8 passenger seats) | 4 | £54.85 |
| Motor caravan (motorhome) | 4 | £54.85 |
| Taxi or private hire car (up to 8 seats) | 4 | £54.85 |
| Goods vehicle up to 3,000kg design gross weight | 4 | £54.85 |
| Passenger vehicle with 9 to 12 seats | 4 | £57.30 |
| Passenger vehicle with 9 to 12 seats, with seat belt installation check | 4a | £64.00 |
| Passenger vehicle with 13 to 16 seats | 5 | £59.55 |
| Passenger vehicle with more than 16 seats | 5 | £80.65 |
| Goods vehicle over 3,000kg up to 3,500kg | 7 | £58.60 |
So, for most drivers the answer to "how much is an MOT for a car" is up to £54.85. The class depends on the vehicle, not on its fuel. Electric cars and hybrids pay the same as petrol and diesel cars.
How much is an MOT for a van, motorhome or minibus?
How much an MOT costs for a van depends on its design gross weight, which is on the plate inside the door or under the bonnet. A van up to 3,000kg is class 4, so the cap is £54.85, the same as a car. A heavier van up to 3,500kg is class 7, with a cap of £58.60.
Motorhomes are class 4 as well. Minibuses cost more, because there are more seats and seat belts to check. Above 3,500kg (or 4,250kg for an electric van), goods vehicles take a separate heavy vehicle test at a different price.
How much is an MOT in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland has its own system. Tests take place at Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) test centres, not at garages, and the fees are fixed rather than capped:
| Vehicle | Full test | Retest |
|---|---|---|
| Car (class IV) | £38.00 | £29.50 |
| Motorcycle (class I or II) | £34.00 | £29.50 |
Cars in Northern Ireland also have their first MOT at four years old, not three. Check nidirect for other vehicles and for any change before you book.
How much should an MOT cost?
An MOT should cost no more than £54.85 for a car in England, Scotland and Wales, because that's the legal maximum. There's no official average price, since DVSA only sets the cap. In practice, prices below the cap are common, so it's worth comparing two or three local garages.
Why many garages charge less than £54.85
Because the fee is only a maximum, test centres compete on price. In general, you'll see three kinds of offer:
- Discounted MOTs: many independent garages and chains advertise a price below the cap, especially for online bookings.
- MOT and service deals: garages often discount the MOT when you book a service at the same time.
- Council test centres: some local councils run MOT centres for the public. They usually only test, so they have no repair work to sell.
Is a cheap MOT worth it?
A cheap MOT can be good value, because every test centre must follow the same inspection manual. However, the garage usually earns more from repairs than from the test itself. So, ask for a written quote before you agree to any work, and remember you can have repairs done elsewhere.
How much is an MOT retest? When the retest fee is free
If your car fails, the retest can be free or cost less than a full MOT. It depends on where the car is repaired and how quickly you bring it back, as GOV.UK's retest rules explain:
| What you do | Retest cost |
|---|---|
| Leave the car at the test centre for repair and it's retested within 10 working days | Free partial retest |
| Take it away and bring it back to the same centre by the end of the next working day, for certain items | Free partial retest |
| Take it away and bring it back within 10 working days | Partial retest, which may cost a fee |
| Anything else | Full MOT fee again |
The free next-working-day retest covers simple items, such as bulbs and lamps, the horn, mirrors, wipers and washers, number plates, seat belts, seats, doors, the windscreen glass, and wheels and tyres on cars. In other words, most of the quick fixes you can sort yourself.
How long does an MOT take?
The MOT test itself usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour. However, many garages ask you to leave the car for longer, so they can fit it around other work. If you want to wait, book a timed slot and ask how long it'll take. A car that needs repairs will, of course, take longer.
How likely is my car to fail?
More than one car in four fails its MOT first time. DVSA's MOT testing data for April 2025 to March 2026 shows that 27.51% of initial tests on cars and light vans ended in a fail. These were the most common problem areas:
| Area of the car | Tests with a fail here |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.44% |
| Suspension | 8.90% |
| Tyres | 6.23% |
| Brakes | 6.10% |
| Visibility (windscreen, wipers, mirrors) | 4.28% |
Notice that bulbs and tyres are near the top. You can check both yourself in a few minutes, which is the cheapest way to avoid paying for a retest.
What else can add to the cost of an MOT?
When people ask how much an MOT is, the test fee is often the smallest part of the bill. In fact, the real MOT cost comes from repairs needed to pass. Here's what to watch for:
- Repairs for a fail: a major or dangerous defect must be fixed before the car passes.
- Advisories: these don't fail the car, but they warn of repairs you'll need soon. Our guide to MOT advisories explains each one.
- A full retest: if you miss the free or partial retest window, you pay the whole fee again.
- Driving without an MOT: a fine of up to £1,000, which is far more than the test.
How to pay less for your MOT
How much is an MOT once you add the repairs? That's partly up to you, because many MOT fails are for simple things you can check at home in ten minutes. So, before you book, run through this list:
- Check every bulb, including the number plate light and the brake lights, with someone watching.
- Check tyre tread is above 1.6mm and look for cuts or bulges in the sidewalls.
- Top up the screenwash and check the wipers clear the screen without smearing.
- Make sure the horn works and the number plates are clean and readable.
- Look for any warning lights on the dashboard, such as the engine or airbag light.
- Check the seat belts lock and the doors open and close from inside and out.
- Clear the boot and the cabin, so the tester can reach everything.
On top of that, book early. You can get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before the current one runs out and keep the same renewal date. Our MOT due date calculator shows the earliest day to book. Then, compare a few local prices, and ask whether the price includes a free retest.
When is my MOT due?
A car needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration. After that, it needs one every year. You can check the date for any vehicle with a free MOT history check, and our free MOT reminders email you before it's due.
Northern Ireland works differently, as the fees section above explains. There, the first test comes at four years old.
The cost of not having an MOT
Skipping the MOT to save the fee is a false economy. You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving without a valid MOT. What's more, a car with a dangerous defect can bring a fine of up to £2,500, 3 penalty points and a driving ban. You also can't tax a vehicle that needs an MOT and doesn't have one.
There are only two exceptions. You can drive to a pre-booked MOT test, and you can drive to a garage to have the failed items repaired.
How much is an MOT: frequently asked questions
How much is an MOT for a car in 2026?
The most a test centre can charge for a car MOT is £54.85. Many charge less, especially if you book online or with a service.
How much is a motorcycle MOT?
The maximum MOT cost for a motorcycle is £29.65, whatever the engine size. With a sidecar, it's £37.80.
Is there VAT on an MOT?
No. The MOT fee has no VAT, so the maximum of £54.85 for a car is the full price. Repairs, parts and servicing do carry VAT.
How much is an MOT retest?
Often nothing. A partial retest is free if the car is repaired at the test centre and retested within 10 working days, or if you return by the end of the next working day for certain items. Otherwise, you may pay a partial or full fee.
How long does an MOT take?
The test usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Garages often need the car for longer, though, so ask when you book.
Can I get my MOT done early?
Yes. You can have the MOT up to a month minus a day before it runs out and keep the same renewal date. If you go earlier, the new MOT runs for a year from the test date.
Does an electric car MOT cost more?
No. Electric cars are class 4, like petrol and diesel cars, so the maximum MOT fee is the same £54.85.
Check when your MOT is due
How much is an MOT going to cost you this year? It helps to know when it's due and what it failed on before. Enter your registration to see the MOT expiry date, every past test and any advisories, so you know what the next MOT might need.