Check maximum MOT fees and when your vehicle needs its first MOT
MOT fees shown are the maximum permitted by DVSA. Many garages charge less. Actual costs may include repairs for advisories and failures. Check gov.uk for the latest fees.
The MOT test is a mandatory annual inspection for most vehicles in the UK, designed to ensure they meet minimum safety and environmental standards for road use. Administered by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the MOT checks everything from brakes and tyres to lights, exhaust emissions, and structural integrity. Failing an MOT means your vehicle cannot legally be driven on public roads until the faults are corrected. The maximum fees for MOT testing are set by the DVSA and have remained relatively stable in recent years. For cars, vans up to 3,000 kg, and motorhomes, the maximum fee is GBP 54.85. Motorcycles are tested at a maximum of GBP 29.65. While these are the maximum permitted charges, many garages offer MOTs at lower prices, sometimes as loss leaders to attract customers for repair work. It is common to find MOT tests advertised from GBP 20 to GBP 35 at high-street garages and national chains. New vehicles do not require an MOT until the third anniversary of their registration date. This means a car registered in 2023 will need its first MOT in 2026. After the first test, an MOT is required every 12 months. Vehicles registered before 1 January 1977 are exempt from MOT testing altogether under the historic vehicle exemption, though owners are still legally required to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy. This calculator helps you determine when your vehicle MOT is due, how many MOTs it should have had to date, and the cumulative cost of MOT testing over the vehicle lifetime using DVSA maximum fees.
To calculate your MOT costs: 1. Select your vehicle type from the dropdown. Cars, vans (up to 3,000 kg), and motorhomes share the same maximum MOT fee of GBP 54.85. Motorcycles have a lower maximum fee of GBP 29.65. Choose the option that matches your vehicle. 2. Enter the registration year of your vehicle. You can find this on your V5C registration document (logbook), or check it online via the DVLA vehicle enquiry service at gov.uk. The registration year determines when your first MOT is due and how many tests your vehicle should have had. 3. Enter the current year. This defaults to 2026 but can be adjusted to calculate past or future MOT requirements. 4. Review the results. The calculator shows whether your vehicle currently requires an MOT, the year of its first MOT, the total number of MOTs it should have had, and the cumulative cost at maximum DVSA rates. If your vehicle is less than three years old, the status will show as not yet required. If it was registered before 1977, it will show as exempt. 5. Remember that the maximum MOT fee covers the test only. If your vehicle fails, the cost of repairs to bring it up to standard is additional. Common failure points include worn tyres, faulty lights, windscreen damage, and brake issues. Budget for potential repairs alongside the test fee.
The MOT cost calculation follows straightforward rules set by the DVSA: Maximum MOT fee by vehicle type: car = GBP 54.85, motorcycle = GBP 29.65, van (up to 3,000 kg) = GBP 54.85, motorhome = GBP 54.85. First MOT due date: registration year + 3 years. For example, a vehicle registered in 2020 needs its first MOT in 2023. Total MOTs to date = current year - first MOT due year + 1 (if the current year is on or after the first due year). If the vehicle is less than 3 years old, no MOTs are required yet and the count is 0. Total MOT cost to date = total MOTs to date x maximum fee for the vehicle type. Historic vehicle exemption: vehicles registered before 1 January 1977 are exempt from MOT testing. The calculator checks the registration year and applies this exemption automatically. For example, a car registered in 2020 with the current year 2026: first MOT due 2023, total MOTs to date = 2026 - 2023 + 1 = 4, total cost = 4 x GBP 54.85 = GBP 219.40. A motorcycle registered in 2024 with the current year 2026: first MOT due 2027, so the vehicle does not yet require an MOT and the total cost is GBP 0.