It's not the test fee but repairing the "fails" that usually costs a fortune. Yet little known council run MOT centres don't do repairs, so there's no vested interest to fail you and thousands report a massive difference. This step by step cheap MOT guide includes a full list of over 100 UK council test centres.
MOTs: the rules
Originally called the 'Ministry of Transport' test, now it's just an MOT. Either way, it's a safety and legal must for cars, motorbikes or any other vehicle.
- It's your responsibility.
The test information is held on a central database as well as on a paper certificate and it's the vehicle owner's responsibility to ensure their car's certificate is valid, not for them to chase.
-
When you need an MOT.
You need a test when the car's three years old, then once a year after that. Get a test the month before the current certificate ends and it'll expire exactly a year from that certificate's end date. Yet get it tested more than a month before the MOT's due and it'll simply expire exactly a year later.
- Always pre-book tests if your certificate's run out.
If your car's out of certification, you can drive it to the test centre provided the test's been pre-booked. Plus, if it's failed the test to get the problems fixed, provided it's pre-booked you can take it to and from the test station to a repair centre. However there's still, obviously, a certain standard of roadworthiness the vehicle must meet otherwise you can be fined.
-
MOT test costs are limited.
Companies cannot charge what they like for an MOT, there's an official maximum. Many companies promote cheaper tests, not that surprising when you consider that often this guarantees they get the repair business too. The maximum test costs are £54 for cars or motor caravans and £29.20 for motorbikes. For a full list see the Direct Gov website.
Do a DIY check of avoidable fails
Thirty five percent of MOTs fail first time, and far too many are due to a simple avoidable reason. Don't worry, this is common sense not mechanical sense, after all. Some of the fails you can sort yourself, others will need a professional, either way getting it sorted pre-test is usually cheaper, after all...

The major reasons for MOT failures
Reason for failure |
What % of MOTs failed for this? (1) |
Possible checks to do beforehand |
Lights |
19% |
Are all lights fully working? Have someone sit in the car while you walk around checking every light... front, rear headlighs and dipped lights, hazard lights and indicators. If any aren't working, buy a new bulb for a few pounds and replace it (it's easy in most cars, though a few do sadly make it more complex). |
Footbrakes & handbrakes |
18% |
Is there tension on the handbrake? Not easy to do yourself, and it will need a proper mechanic to fix. Yet if your brakes feel loose and unresponsive, or the handbrake simple slides up without resistence and can't be ratched at a set level, it's likely there's a problem. |
Suspension |
15% |
Check suspension. While a full suspension check is difficult, to see if the shock absorbers have gone, quickly apply your weight to each corner of the car then release. It should quickly settle back.. if not it's possibly a shock problem. |
Tyres |
13% |
Check tyre pressure. To check tyre pressure, look up what they should be, and take it to a petrol station to fill up. Check tyre tread. The tread is the depth of grooves that provide road grip, the legal minimum is a tiny 1.6mm (still enough to allow surface water to slip through which is the point). To measure this, take a 5p piece and turn it sideways (ie coin edge) and that is 2mm, so if your treads are deeper it's legal, if not, get them changed before the MOT. |
Windscreen |
8.4% |
Is the driver's windscreen damaged? Damage in the driver's central view should be no larger than 10mm and in the whole of the swept area it should be no larger than 40mm. If it is get it fixed pre test (often this is included by car insurance policies). Windscreen wipers? The front wipers are in the check and shouldn't have any splits, if they do replace before the test. |
Exhaust |
6.1% |
Is the exhaust leaking? To check, start the engine (in a well ventilated place, at normal temperature) and from the rear of the car listen for any unusual noises or abnormal smoke which might indicate a leak if it is get it fixed pre-check. |
Licence Plates |
- |
Can you read the licence plate? Make sure the licence plates are clean and easily legible from 20 metres away. |
Fluids |
- |
Are all fluids topped up? Check the brake fluid, windscreen washer and oil reserves. |
The Rest |
- |
An all over once over. Make sure the fuel cap is secure, mirrors are in good condition, and seatbelts etc are all fully functional. |
| (1) Source RAC | ||
For a full list of each check type for every vehicle, see the Direct Gov website.
Choose the right type of Test Centre
For cars with faults the MOT test fee is usually dwarfed by repair costs. While a cheap "MOTs just £20" promotion sounds good, it's irrelevant for those shelling out £1,500 to get problems fixed. |
-
Is your car in tip-top condition?
If your car is almost definitely in perfect condition and you'd be surprised if it failed anything, then simply find a local garage with the lowest possible MOT test fee.
-
Is your car in moderate to good condition?
If it's likely or possible that minor repairs may be needed, local council run centres come into their own. As there's no vested interest if anything fails, you can be 100% confident they're only for your own safety; and then you can go and get them fixed. See council run MOT centres below. It does mean there's a chance you'll have to pay a retest fee though.
-
Is your car in poor condition?
If you're pretty sure your car is going to need a substantial number of repairs, then there's a balance to be had. By going to a garage that does repairs you benefit from the convenience factor, and the fact there's no retest fee, but by using a council MOT there's a chance your car may fail on less points.
Perhaps the best solution is to call up a range of reputable local garages with the likely problems and ask for quotes so you can see who'll be best value.
Local Council MOT centres
Many local councils have their own MOT testing stations for council vehicles like buses or ambulances. By law these test centres (though not taxi or Crown stations) must be open to the general public, and as they only carry out tests, and don't do repairs, there's no incentive for mechanics to find faults that don't exist.
Having visited one of these centres, they told me that this guide had seen a four fold increase in members of he public visiting the centre. Better still, he said they were grateful as it secured their jobs in times of council cuts... good news as it means you're seen as a welcome customer not an annoying distraction.
Does it make a difference?
Thousands of savvy MoneySavers have used these test centres and the huge bulk report their cars either consistently passing the test or needing fewer repairs compared with MOTs done at other garages. Here are a couple of examples:
“My usual garage said to make it pass its MOT, repairs would cost almost £1,000. Following the article, I took it to the council test centre instead and it passed without any work needed.”
“After having gone to my local Alfa Romeo 'specialist' it quoted £300 for repairs and told me a full service would cost £600, even though my car isn't due a service for another 4,000 miles. I then went to the Wandsworth council test centre who passed it without fault! It did mean I spent another £45 for the test but well worth it since I didn't actually need any further repairs to pass the MOT.”
So while you may miss out on the special ‘cheap MOT testing' deal, the money saved in repairs should make up for it. Of course there are no guarantees. You may go to a local council test centre and be told repairs are needed, which is good, as it's for your safety and you should always want to know if your car has a problem.
Is it a safety compromise?
This isn't about getting a shoddy quick MOT that passes your car. Council run MOT centres are often some of the best out there, and they run the safety tests stringently.
|
Only get an MOT done where it shows this sign
|
One MoneySaver tells how, after being quoted £700 for MOT repairs from his local dealer, he took it to his council test centre where it passed without any need for repairs. He then reported the dealer to his local Trading Standards department, which had it re-tested; it passed with no need for repairs. So he wrote to the dealer requesting his test fee be returned for 'non-compliance with the Road Traffic Act' and got a refund.
If you're not satisfied with the way a test has been carried out get an appeal form, either from the garage in question or from VOSA's MOT enquiries phoneline and VOSA will re-test your car. DirectGov has details on how to go about this.
Local council MOT test centres list
The table below lists many of the council run centres. It's been compiled with the generous feedback of MoneySavers across the country using the discussion links below. As it's compiled by public feedback, do always check the details and the centre's MOT status before using it. Also it's worth making sure you book early as some council centres may already be booked up.
No centre in your area?
Check out the discussion links below the table, and if that doesn't work, try phoning your local county or borough council, or look on its website ( usually www.yourarea.gov.uk e.g. www.dudley.gov.uk). The council should be able to tell you your nearest one. If you find it please let us know via the discussion links.
MOT Test Centres - including Contact Details
![]() |
Address |
Contact Details |
Aberdeenshire
|
Powis Terrace, Kittybrewster, Aberdeen |
01224 489324 / 01224 489413 |
Aberdeenshire
|
Inverurie |
01467 627538 |
Aberdeenshire
|
Mintlaw |
01771 623197 |
Aberdeenshire
|
Stonehaven |
01569 763274 |
Angus
|
Dundee Contract Services, 353 Clepington Road, Dundee |
01382 434773 |
Bedfordshire
|
County Council Vehicle Depot, London Rd Bedford |
08453 656150 |
| Bedfordshire
|
Fleet Transport,
Central Depot,
Kingsway,
Luton,
Beds,
LU4 8AU |
01582 546839 |
Bristol
|
Sandy Park Rd , Brislington,
Bristol |
01179
036319 |
| Bristol
|
Broad
Lane, Engine Common, Yate, Bristol BS37 7PN |
01454
863920 |
| Buckinghamshire
|
Synergy Park,
Chesney Wold, Bleak Hall, Milton Keynes, MK6 1LY |
01908 252845 |
Cambridgeshire
|
City
Services Transport Depot, Mill
Rd, Cambridge, CB1 2AZ |
01223 458266 01223 458264 |
Cambridgeshire
|
Peterborough City Council Depot,
Nursery Lane,
Fengate,
Peterborough,
PE1 5BG |
01733 425419 |
Cardiff
|
Clair Road, Cardiff |
02920
343581 |
Carmarthenshire
|
Trostre Depot,
Trostre Road,
LLanelli,
SA14 9RA |
01554 784 138 |
Ceredigion
|
Glanyrafon Ind Est, Llanbadam Aberysthwyth, Cerdigion |
01970 636713 |
Cheshire
|
Wilderspool
Causeway, Warrington
WA4 6PT |
01925
634296 |
Cheshire
|
Direct
Services, Pyms Lane, Crewe & Nantwich |
01270 537777 |
Cheshire
|
Lowerhouse Lane Depot,
Widnes,
Cheshire,
WA8 7AW |
tbc |
Cheshire
|
Ellesmere Port & Neston, Rossfield Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH6 3AW |
0151 356 6548 |
| Cheshire
|
Newby
Road Industrial Estate,
Hazel Grove, Stockport, SK7 5DA |
0161 482 7235 |
Cornwall
|
Cornwall Transport Organisation Engineering, Cornwall County Council Workshops, Bodmin |
01872 327827 |
Cornwall
|
Cornwall Transport Organisation
Engineering, Cornwall
County Council
Workshops, Scorrier |
01872
327335 |
County Durham
|
Service Direct depot, St Johns Road, Meadowfield Industrial Estate, Durham, DH7 8XQ |
01913 862714 |
| County Durham
|
Local Environmental Services Central Depot, Park Road, Gateshead, NE8 3HN |
01914 337433 |
| County Durham
|
Cowpen Lane Depot,
Cowpen Lane,
Billingham, Stockton-on-tees,
TS23 4DD |
01642
527167 |
| Cumbria
|
Rome Street, Bousteads
Grassing, Carlisle |
tbc |
Denbyshire
|
Fleet Management & Vehicle Maintenance, Expressway Business Park, Abergele Road, Bodelwyddan, LL18 5SQ |
01745 839230 |
Derbyshire
|
County Transport, Ripley Rd, Ambergate |
01773 856667 |
Derbyshire
|
County Transport, Brimington Rd North, Chesterfield |
01246 450705 |
Derbyshire
|
County Transport, Halstead Garage, Buxton |
01298 813141 |
Devon
|
Ivybridge MOT Centre, Blachford Road, Ivybridge PL21 0AE |
01752 698835 |
| Devon
|
Aspen
Way,
Paignton,
Devon,
TQ4 7QR |
01803 402 966 |
Dorset
|
Wanchard Lane, DT2 9RP |
01305 228132 |
Edinburgh
|
CEC Fleet Services, Gorgie, Russel Rd |
01313 372307 |
| Essex
|
Langston Road, Epping Forest,
IG10 3UE |
0208 532 0357 |
Essex
|
Rainham Road North, Barking & Dagenham, RM10 |
02082 272614 |
| Essex
|
Vehicle Servicing, Westside Centre, London Rd , Stanway, Colchester |
01206 282624 |
| Fife
|
Fleet Services, Denburn Yrd, KY1 2HD |
01592 551199 (switchboard) |
Glasgow
|
MOT Inspection Centre, 73 Hawthorn Street |
01412 87 3326/3328 |
Gloucestershire
|
Swindon Rd Depot, Cheltenham |
01242 264184 |
| Hampshire
|
Albert Rd North (City Council), Southampton |
02380
834362 |
| Hampshire
|
Eastleigh Borough Council,Hedge End Depot, Botley Road, Hedge End, SO30 2RA |
02380 688389 |
| Kent
|
The Forstal,
Beddow Way,
Kent,
ME20 7BT |
01622 605 800 |
Kent
|
County Workshops, The Forstal, Forstal Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7HB |
01622 605800 |
Lanarkshire
|
Old Edinburgh Rd, Bellshill, ML4 3JF |
01698 506284 |
| Lancashire
|
Operational
Services Depot, Moorhey Street, Oldham |
0161 770
4446 |
| Lancashire
|
Hindley Depot, Wigan |
01942
705122 |
Lancashire
|
Hardshaw Brook Depot, Parr Street, St Helens, Merseyside |
01744 456757 |
Lancashire
|
Stretton Way Depot,
Huyton Industrial Estate,
Knowsley,
L36 6JF |
0151 443 2816 |
| Lancashire
|
Dewhurst Row,
Holme Road,
Bamber Bridge,
PR5 6BB |
01772 620 933 |
Lancashire
|
Layton Depot, Plymouth Road, Blackpool, FY3 7HW |
01253 476291 |
Lancashire
|
Transport
Services & Vehicle Workshop,
Bradley Fold Depot,
Bradley Fold Trading Estate,
Bradley Fold Road,
Bolton,
BL2 6RS |
01612
536699 /
0161 253
6662 |
| Leicestershire
|
84 Syston Street East, Cobden Industrial Estate, Leicester, LE1 2JW |
01162 519185 |
London
|
Mill Hill Depot, Barnet, London |
0208 3595103 |
London
|
Tower
Hamlets Vehicle Workshop, Silvocea Way, Blackwall, London,
UK, E14 0JJ |
02073
641069 |
London
|
Rutlish Auto Care Centre, 144 Kingston Road, Merton, London, SW19 1LY |
02085 423269 |
London
|
1 Dormay Street,
Frogmore Complex,
Wandsworth,
London,
SW18 1EY |
0208
8716761 |
London
|
Fleet Management, Birchmere Depot, Birchmere Business Site, Eastern Way, Thamesmead, Greenwich, London, SE28 8BF |
02089 214561 |
London
|
Bridge Rd Depot, Pears Rd, Hounslow, TW3 1SQ |
02085 835430 |
| Midlothian
|
80b High
Street, Bonnyrigg |
01316
603486 |
Northumberland
|
Newington Road, Shieldfield, Newcastle upon Tyne |
01912 783867 |
Northumberland
|
Northumberland
County Council, Morpeth |
01670
510153 |
| Nottinghamshire
|
Eastcroft Depot, London Road, Nottingham, NG2 3AH |
0115 9152008 |
| Nottinghamshire
|
Rolleston Drive Workshops, Arnold,
Nottingham |
01159
567420 |
Oxfordshire
|
Transport
Services Division, Cowley Marsh Depot,
Marsh Road, Oxford,
OX4 2HH |
01865
252900 |
Oxfordshire
|
Thorpe Lane Depot, Banbury, OX16 4UT |
01295 221916. |
Pembrokeshire
|
Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, SA73
2RR |
01437
764 551 ext 5938 |
Pembrokshire
|
Unit 28,
Thornton,
Industrial Estate,
Pembrokshire,
SA73 2RR |
01437 775 440 |
Powys
|
Ffrwdgrech DSO Depot, Ffrwdgrech
Industrial Estate, Brecon, Powys,
LD3 8DR |
01597
826000 (ask for Vehicle Maintenance workshops in Brecon) |
Redcar & Cleveland
|
Limerick Rd, Dormanstown |
01642
444979 |
| South Ayshire
|
McCalls Avenure, AYR |
01292
267802 |
| Staffordshire
|
Beacon Business
Park,
Weston Road,
Stafford |
01785
854832 / 01785 854833 |
Staffordshire
|
Northwood, Stoke On
Trent |
01782
232297 |
Suffolk
|
Lodge Lane, Great Blackenham,
Nr Ipswich |
01473
588600 |
Suffolk
|
Rougham, Industrial Estate, Bury St Edmunds |
01359
270777 |
Suffolk
|
Blythe Rd Industrial Estate, Halesworth |
01984
874427 |
Surrey
|
Factory Lane, Croydon |
02082 552758 |
| Surrey
|
Woking Road, Guildford |
01483 445091 |
| Sussex
|
Colas |
01273
815850 |
| Sussex
|
Accord, Broadbridge Heath Depot, Worthing Rd,
Horsham |
01403
211246 |
| Sussex
|
Eastbourne Buses, Birch Road, Eastbourne |
01323 418077 |
Tyneside
|
S. Tyneside Council,
Middlefields,
Heddon Way,
Tyne Dock,
South Shields,
NE34 0NT |
0191 427 2024 |
Warwickshire
|
County Fleet Maintenance, Unit 6, Coleshill Depot, Coleshill Hth Road,
Coleshill, B46 3HL |
01675
464888 |
Warwickshire
|
St. Marys Road Depot,
St. Marys Road,
Nuneaton,
Warwickshire,
CV11 5AR |
024 7637 6031 ext. 6031 |
| West Dunbartonshire
|
Richmond Street, Clydebank |
01389
738741 |
| West Lothian
|
tbc |
01506
775000 |
West Midlands
|
Montague Street, Bordesley,
Birmingham, B9 4BA |
0121 303 3311 |
West Midlands
|
259 London Rd, Coventry, CV3 4AR |
02476 832147 |
West Midlands
|
Fleet
Services Public Works Depot, Norfolk
Place, Bloxwich Road, Walsall, WS2 7BA |
01922
653716 |
West Sussex
|
Arun Works Service, Arun District Council, Station Road, East Preston, West Sussex, BN16 3AA |
01903 737829 |
Wiltshire
|
Calne Test Station |
01249
812351 |
Wiltshire
|
VOSA Test Station, Wiltshire County Council, Devizes |
01380 725854 |
Wiltshire
(by 2012)
|
The
MOT Centre,
Audley Road,
Chippenham |
tbc |
Worcestershire
|
Six Ways
Depot, Worcester |
01905
753000 |
| Yorkshire
|
Shearbridge Depot, Shearbridge Road, Bradford,
West Yorkshire,
BD7 1PU |
01274
431000 |
| Yorkshire
|
Cargo Fleet Lane, Middlesborough |
01642 264586 |
Yorkshire
|
Amos Fleet, Battinson Rd, Halifax |
01422 355419 |
Yorkshire
|
Vine Street,
Huddersfield, Kirklees, West Yorkshire
HD1 6NT |
01484 223 127 |
Yorkshire
|
Staveley House,
Stockholm Road,
Hull, HU7 0XW |
tbc |
| Yorkshire
|
225a York Road, Leeds, LS9 7QQ |
01132 143161 |
| Yorkshire
|
Claro Rd, Harrogate |
01423 556877 |
| Yorkshire
|
Kirklees Council, George
St, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire |
tbc |
Yorkshire
|
Newton Bar Depot, Wakefield |
01924
306431 |
Yorkshire
|
East Riding of Yorkshire Council Beverley Depot, Annie Reed Road Beverley, HU17 0LF |
|
Yorkshire
|
Vehicle & Plant, North Bridge Doncaster, DN5 9AN |
01302 736851 |
Yorkshire
|
Barnsley MBC Fleet Services,
Smithies Lane Depot, Smithies Lane, Smithies, Barnsley, S711NL
|
01226 774194 |
It's not just council run MOT centres.
Quite a few private garages also only do MOTs and not repairs, and the same logic should apply. It should also be said there are of course many garages that do MOTs and repairs completely honestly and fairly and if you use one that's great.
Yet, if you're new to MOTs or not happy with what you get, then this is an alternative route. You can also check your local council's website to see if it has a list of vetted garages.
Area by area MOT centre discussion...
The following list will enable you to discuss, feedback and suggest new MOT test centres in your area.
Area by Area MOT Centre Discussions
Add your suggestions/read others |
||||
Retest Fees: If your car fails
If your vehicle does fail its MOT, then once the repairs have been completed it needs to be retested. These can either free or discounted depending on where you had your vehicle tested in the first place. |
![]() |
Repairs done at the test centre? Retests are free when...
The retest is free if the repairs are done at the test centre and the vehicle's retested within ten days. It's also free if the repairs are done elsewhere and it's returned to the test centre by the end of the next working day. However to qualify for this partial re-test all the failure points must be on the following list:
Bonnet, boot lid, brake pedal anti-slip, direction indicators, doors, dropsides, fuel filler cap, hazard warning, horn, lamps, loading door, mirrors, rear reflectors, registration plates, seatbelts (but not anchorages), seats, sharp edges or projections, steering wheel, tailboard, tailgate, vehicle identification number (VIN), windscreen and glass, windscreen wipers/washers, wheels and tyres (though these last two are not applicable to motorbikes and sidecars).
One point of note though. While a vehicle may be taken away from the original test centre for repairs this doesn't apply if the problem is a dangerous one such as defective brakes.
-
Test done at a local council centre? Retests are up to half price when...
The re-tester can only charge up to half the price of the normal fee if the repairs are done elsewhere provided the vehicle's brought back to the original test centre for a partial retest within ten working days.
This applies to any test centre, but is primarily relevant in the case of local test centres. One partial re-test is permitted per full test carried out.
All other cases. It's a full fee test...
In all other circumstances the retest fee is the same maximum rate as the full test.
Ask a Question / Forum Discussion
Region by Region MOT Centre Discussions
Scotland MOTs
Northern Ireland MOTs
Wales MOTs
Yorkshire MOTs
East Yorkshire & Lincs MOTs
North East of England MOTs
North West of England MOTs
East Midlands MOTs
West Midlands MOTs
West of England MOTs
East of England MOTs
South West of England MOTs
South of England MOTs
South East of England MOTs
London MOTs
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