MOT cost in 2026: the £54.85 cap and what you’ll actually pay
Updated 23 July 2026 · OBDCode UK editorial
The legal maximum for a car MOT is £54.85 (no VAT). Most UK garages charge £30–£45, and MOT-plus-service bundles discount it further. Fail and you may get a free partial retest within 10 working days at the same garage.
Official maximum fees (Class 3–7)
| Vehicle | Max fee |
|---|---|
| Car (up to 8 seats, Class 4) | £54.85 |
| Motorcycle (Class 1/2) | £29.65 |
| Three-wheeler (Class 3) | £37.80 |
| Private passenger vehicle 9–12 seats (Class 4A) | £57.30 |
| Goods vehicle 3,000–3,500kg (Class 7) | £58.60 |
Garages can charge anything up to the cap — which is why prices vary so much. Council-run test centres charge full price but don’t do repairs, removing any incentive to find faults.
Retest rules that save money
- Free partial retest: leave the car for repair at the test garage, or bring it back within 10 working days for a partial retest of the failed items (fee at the garage’s discretion — most do it free).
- Full fee again: return after 10 working days, or test at a different garage.
- Early test, keep your date: test up to a month (minus a day) before expiry and the new certificate runs from the old expiry date — you lose nothing by testing early.
Don’t pay for a fail you could prevent
Around 22.5% of first tests fail, and the top causes are boring: bulbs, tyres, wipers, and warning lamps. Check our model-by-model failure data to see what your car is most likely to fail on, decode outstanding advisories, and clear any engine light before the tester sees it.
General guidance for UK drivers, not professional advice. MOT rules follow the DVSA inspection manual (2026 edition).