 MOTIntroduction If your vehicle is more than three years old, it will need an MOT test. This test ensures that road vehicles comply with at least the minimum road safety and environmental standards. The first MOT test on a vehicle applies when it's exactly three years old (based on the date that the vehicle was first registered). The MOT test itself looks at the most important parts of the vehicle to ensure that it still meets minimum legal requirements. It should be noted that an MOT certificate is not a guarantee of the general mechanical condition of a vehicle. The certificate is not a substitute for regular maintenance of a vehicle. MOT Test FeesCurrent MOT test fees for a car with upto 8 seats is £53.10. This fee is inclusive of Value Added Tax. It's important to keep your MOT test certificate in a safe place as a replacement certificate can cost upto a maximum of £10.00. For a full list of MOT test fees for all vehicle types, click on MOT. Where to Get an MOTThere are about 19,000 garages in the UK who are authorised to undertake MOT tests. Approved MOT test stations / garages display the 'three blue triangles' logo, as shown opposite. These garages / stations usually have an observation area where you can wait and view what's being tested on your vehicle. The test doesn't last too long and is generally done in about 20 - 40 mins. Once your vehicle has passed the test, you will receive a MOT certificate which covers you for a full year. Click on MOT to view MOT garages / stations in your area.  MOT Test Certificate and DatabaseA MOT certificate is your receipt for the MOT test. It shows the information that is held on the MOT database. The certificate is not proof of a MOT and should not be relied upon as such. Only the computer record can prove a vehicle has a valid MOT. All records of test results are now held on a secure central database and all MOT testing garages / stations are connected to this database. When your vehicle is tested, your test record will be entered into the database and you will receive your paper certificate before leaving the garage. When You Might Need an MOT CertificateYou will need to present a MOT certificate when you either 1) register a second hand vehicle that you have bought or 2) when you apply for Car Tax. Police officers are also entitled to request production of a valid MOT certificate. The MOT TestThe MOT test does not examine all aspects of your vehicle. It specifically focuses on certain aspects of the vehicle in order to ensure that it meets minimum safety and environmental criteria. Click on MOT for a list of the components tested during the MOT. What if your Vehicle fails the MOT?If your vehicle doesn't meet the minimum MOT standards, you will need to arrange for all necessary repairs to be made to the vehicle before a MOT certificate will be issued. If you wish the MOT testing garage to undertake such repairs, the MOT retest fee is usually free. If you decide not to have such repairs undertaken at the MOT testing garage, and the repairs are not undertaken before the MOT expiry date, you cannot drive the vehicle on the road. The only exception to this is actually driving to another pre-arranged MOT test / retest.
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