A. Introduction
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-10)

The purpose of the MOT test, what it includes, which vehicles are tested and which are exempt, who carries out the test.

Introduction to the MOT testing guide

This document is intended to help new and existing authorised examiners, testers and other interested parties comply with the requirements for authorisation by the Secretary of State to conduct statutory tests on certain motor vehicles.

The statutory requirements are contained in the Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981 as amended. The guide does not cover the requirements for annual testing of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) or public service vehicles (PSVs). Neither does the guide cover the requirements for type approval nor individual vehicle approval of certain vehicles before they are first registered in Great Britain.

This guide is divided into a series of sections covering specific subject areas.

Detailed information on the technical standards and procedures of the statutory test is given in the appropriate MOT inspection manual.

Additional instruction and information is also issued to vehicle testing stations about testing and procedures, in the form of special notices (SNs). DVSA reserves the right to modify the content of this guide to reflect changes in the law or in light of experience.

Availability and maintenance of the guide

The definitive document is held electronically. The electronic documents will be periodically updated and changes will be advised by special notice.

Additional information is available at DVSA and the MOT service (http://www.gov.uk/topic/mot).

Other DVSA documentation

This guide should be used in conjunction with:
- the relevant MOT inspection manuals which are a detailed guide to the inspection for statutory MOT testing
- special notices (SNs) - these are issued periodically by DVSA to inform those involved with MOT testing about changes and to highlight areas of concern
- other documentation issued by DVSA
1. Purpose and scope of the test

The purpose of the MOT test is to ensure that cars, other light vehicles (including some light goods vehicles), private buses and motor bicycles over a prescribed age are checked at least once a year to see that they comply with roadworthiness and environmental standards – and to that end contributes to the government’s road safety strategy.

MOT test records

For every test conducted an electronic record is created. The electronic record of an MOT is the legal record of that test. The test result is lawful once the test has been recorded on the MOT testing service or a CT20 test certificate has been issued during contingency testing.

The vehicle testing station does not need to automatically issue a paper record of the test. However, a vehicle presenter may ask for a paper receipt of the test. If requested, the vehicle testing station must supply the relevant VT20 or VT30 certificate.

The MOT record is checked when a vehicle is taxed. The police and certain enforcement agencies can also access this information directly from the electronic record and may use it for on-road enforcement that a vehicle has an MOT or as part of other investigations.

The electronic test records are made available publicly online and and should be used by vehicle owners to confirm the MOT test result and details of their vehicle. This data can be used for a variety of road safety related purposes, such as helping motorists to make informed decisions when considering a car purchase, to help look after their vehicle and to ensure they get their vehicle tested on time.

Third parties may also access these records and use it for things such as checking validity of vehicle mileages or for part of car insurance considerations. The recorded accuracy of that test result and it being matched to the correct vehicle is therefore important.

Paper documentation (such as the receipt style test certificate and the failure document) may be issued on completion of a test, but these should only be considered as a view of the definitive electronic record.

The creation of that electronic record relates only to the condition of testable items at the time of the test and should not be regarded as:
- evidence of their condition at any other time
- evidence of the general mechanical condition of the vehicle
- evidence that the vehicle fully complies with all aspects of the law on vehicle construction and use
There are a number of specific circumstances when a paper certificate must be issued. See Section H. Documentation (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-testing-guide/h-documentation) for full details.

The test is a visual inspection and does not require the dismantling of parts of the vehicle although doors, boot lids and other means of access will normally need to be opened. In the case of motor bicycles, cover panels may also need to be removed or raised to examine the vehicle structure.

MOT history check

The definitive legal MOT records for a vehicle can be viewed on the service to check the MOT history of a vehicle (https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history).

It includes:
- if the vehicle passed or failed
- the mileage recorded when it was tested
- where each test was done – you’ll need the 11-digit number from the vehicle’s log book (V5C)
- what parts failed at each test, and if any parts had minor problems
- when its next MOT is due
- if a vehicle recall is outstanding
Vehicle owners are advised to check their MOT details following their test. They can get information corrected on an MOT certificate (https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/correcting-mot-certificate-mistakes) if it’s wrong. Some errors can be corrected by the MOT garage that issued the test. Other errors will need to be corrected by DVSA.

MOT reminder service

Owners of vehicles that are registered in Scotland, England or Wales can sign up to the MOT reminder service (https://www.gov.uk/mot-reminder) to receive text or email reminder notifications for free.

When they sign up they’ll get a reminder:
- 1 month before their car, van or motorcycle MOT is due
- 2 months before their lorry, bus or large trailer MOT is due
A person can register a maximum of 2 vehicles on a single phone number or any number of vehicles on an email address. Subscriptions can be managed on the online service to add or remove vehicles.

2. Test classes

The vehicles subject to test under the regulations are divided into the following classes.

Class 1

Class 1 vehicles are motorcycles and motorcycle combinations up to 200cc and electrically powered solo motorcycles with not more than 4kW maximum continuous rated power and a maximum design speed up to 45km/h (28mph).

They can be category L1, L3 or L4.

Their first test will be required after 3 years.

Class 2

Class 2 vehicles are all motorcycles and motorcycle combinations, including electrically powered variants, other than those in category L1.

They can be category L3 or L4.

Their first test will be required after 3 years.

Class 3

Class 3 vehicles are 3 wheeled vehicles not more than 450kg unladen weight (excluding motor bicycles with side cars).

3 wheeled vehicles more than 450kg unladen are in class 4.

They can be category L2e or L5e.

Their first test will be required after 3 years.

Class 4

Class 4 vehicles can be:
- cars, passenger vehicles, motor caravans, private hire vehicles, motor tricycles, quadricycles and dual purpose vehicles in all cases with up to eight passenger seats
- goods vehicles not exceeding 3,000kg design gross weight (DGW)
- taxis and ambulances with up to eight passenger seats
- passenger vehicles, ambulances, motor caravans and dual purpose vehicles with nine to twelve passenger seats
Cars, passenger vehicles, motor caravans, private hire vehicles, motor tricycles, quadricycles and dual purpose vehicles in all cases with up to eight passenger seats

They can be category L5e, L6e, L7e, M1 or N1.

Their first test will be required after 3 years.

Goods vehicles not exceeding 3,000kg design gross weight (DGW)

They will be category N1.

Their first test will be required after 3 years.

Taxis and ambulances with up to eight passenger seats

They will be category M1.

Their first test will be required after 1 year.

Passenger vehicles, ambulances, motor caravans and dual purpose vehicles with nine to twelve passenger seats

They must either:
- be fitted with no more seat belts than the minimum required because of their construction
- be identified as having been fitted with a type approved seat belt installation when built
- have been tested as class 4A, 5A or 6A (PSV) with at least the same number of seat belts as are currently fitted
They will be category M2 or M3.

Their first test will be required after 1 year.

For the purpose of calculating the seating capacity on a passenger carrying vehicle fitted with bench type seats, allow a length of 400 mm measured horizontally for each seated passenger.

Taxis included in this table are those which are not exempt from MOT testing – see Section C. Designated councils, taxis and private hire vehicles (/guidance/mot-testing-guide/c-designated-councils-taxis-and-private-hire-vehicles).

Please refer to the appropriate MOT inspection manual to find out the minimum number of seat belts required on a particular age and type of vehicle.

If the vehicle is electrically powered, their unladen weight must not include the weight of the batteries.

If there is doubt about the power output or the weight of the vehicle, the presenter must provide documentary evidence.

Taxis and private hire vehicles may be subject to additional local requirements.

4 x 4 pickup and crew cab type vehicles with a DGW over 3000kg up to and including 3500kg are to be considered dual purpose vehicles for test purposes where no unladen weight data is available if they meet all other criteria in either option A or option B detailed within Section 2.2 Dual purpose vehicles (#dual-purpose-vehicles).

American pickup means a motor vehicle with a manufacturer’s declaration (on a plate on the vehicle) that it meets the motor vehicle safety standards applicable under the law in the United States of America or Canada(c) and is capable of carrying a driver and at least one passenger; or is capable of carrying goods in an open load bed separate from the driver/passenger compartment, with or without a removable cover; and has a gross design weight over 3,000kg but does not exceed 6,500kg.

Class 4A

The class 4A test is the normal class 4 test with the addition of a check on the installation of certain seat belts.

It’s for passenger vehicles, ambulances, motor caravans and dual purpose vehicles in all cases with nine to twelve passenger seats that are fitted with more seat belts than the minimum required because of their construction and either:
- are not identified as having been fitted with a type approved seat belt installation when built
- have not been tested as class 4A, 5A or 6A (PSV) with at least the same number of seat belts as are currently fitted
They will be category M2 or M3.

Their first test will be required after 1 year.

For the purpose of calculating the seating capacity on a passenger carrying vehicle fitted with bench type seats, allow a length of 400 mm measured horizontally for each seated passenger.

Please refer to the appropriate MOT inspection manual to find out the minimum number of seat belts required on a particular age and type of vehicle.

Class 4A tests may only be carried out at class 5 test stations.

Class 5

Class 5 vehicles are private passenger vehicles, ambulances and motor caravans, in all cases with thirteen or more passenger seats (including community and play buses, etc.) that are either:
- fitted with no more seat belts than the minimum required because of their construction
- identified as having been fitted with a type approved seat belt installation to all seats when built
- previously tested as class 5A or class 6A (PSV) with at least the same number of seat belts as are currently fitted
They will be category M2 or M3.

Their first test will be required after 1 year.

Taxis included in this table are those which are not exempt from MOT testing – see Section C. Designated councils, taxis and private hire vehicles (/guidance/mot-testing-guide/c-designated-councils-taxis-and-private-hire-vehicles).

Class 4A tests may only be carried out at class 5 test stations.

This guide does not cover the testing of class 6 and 6a vehicles. These vehicles are tested by DVSA testers and are carried out at DVSA testing stations and other designated premises.

Taxis and private hire vehicles may be subject to additional local requirements.

Class 5A

The class 5A test is the normal class 5 test with the addition of a check on the installation of certain seat belts.

It’s for passenger vehicles, ambulances and motor caravans all cases with thirteen or more passenger seats (including community buses, etc.) that are fitted with more seat belts than the minimum required because of their construction and either:
- are not identified as having been fitted with a type approved seat belt installation when built
- have not been tested as class 5A or class 6A (PSV) with at least the same number of seat belts as are currently fitted
They will be category M2 or M3.

Their first test will be required after 1 year.

Taxis included in this table are those which are not exempt from MOT testing – see Section C. Designated councils, taxis and private hire vehicles (/guidance/mot-testing-guide/c-designated-councils-taxis-and-private-hire-vehicles).

Class 4A tests may only be carried out at class 5 test stations.

This guide does not cover the testing of class 6 and 6a vehicles. These vehicles are tested by DVSA testers and are carried out at DVSA testing stations and other designated premises.

Class 6 and 6A

Class 6 and 6A vehicles are public service vehicles (PSVs).

They will be category M2 or M3.

Their first test will be required after 1 year.

If the vehicle is electrically powered, their unladen weight must not include the weight of the batteries.

Class 7

Class 7 vehicles are goods vehicles over 3,000kg up to and including 3,500kg DGW.

They will be category N1.

Their first test will be required after 3 years.

This guide does not cover the testing of class 6 and 6a vehicles. These vehicles are tested by DVSA testers and are carried out at DVSA testing stations and other designated premises.

Taxis and private hire vehicles may be subject to additional local requirements.

4 x 4 pickup and crew cab type vehicles with a DGW over 3000kg up to and including 3500kg are to be considered dual purpose vehicles for test purposes where no unladen weight data is available if they meet all other criteria in either option A or option B detailed within Section 2.2 Dual purpose vehicles (#dual-purpose-vehicles).

2.1 Exemptions

Detailed legislation on vehicles exempt from the MOT is set out in the Motor Vehicles Test Regulations 1981 regulation 6 (as amended), and in the Road Traffic Act 1988 Section 189.

Examples of vehicles exempted from MOT testing include:
- those constructed or first registered more than 40 years ago and not substantially modified
- track laying vehicles
- vehicles constructed or adapted to form part of an articulated combination
- works trucks
- trailers
- pedestrian controlled mechanically propelled vehicles
- electrically powered pedal cycles
Pick up vehicles with a fifth wheel should not be considered an articulated vehicle and should be tested as normal.

Legislation also exempts vehicles used in particular ways, for example travelling to and from test, or particular places, such as on some islands, from the need to have a valid MOT test certificate.

Trailers constructed or adapted for the carriage of goods or burden with an unladen weight of more than 1,020kg and vehicles forming part of an articulated combination are subject to HGV plating and testing.

Even when a vehicle is not required to have a test certificate it must still be maintained in a roadworthy condition.

2.2 Dual purpose vehicles

A dual purpose vehicle is one that:
- is constructed or adapted for the carriage of both passengers and goods or burden of any description
- has an unladen weight (ULW) not exceeding 2,040kg
- is constructed as defined in either option A or option B below
Option A

The vehicle is so constructed or adapted so that the driving power of the engine, is, or by the use of the appropriate controls can be, transmitted to all the wheels of the vehicle.

Option B

The vehicle is permanently fitted with a rigid roof, with or without a sliding panel.

The area to the rear of the driver’s seat must be:
- permanently fitted with at least one row of transverse seats (fixed or folding) for two or more passengers, and those seats must be properly sprung or cushioned and provided with upholstered backrests, attached either to the seats or to a side or the floor of the vehicle
- lit on each side and at the rear by a window or windows of glass or other transparent material having an aggregate area of not less than 1,850cm² on each side and not less than 770cm² at the rear
The distance between the rearmost part of the steering wheel and the backrests of the row of transverse seats satisfying the requirements specified above, (or, if there is more than one such row of seats, the distance between the rearmost part of the steering wheel and the backrests of the rearmost such row) must, when the seats are ready for use, be not less than one third of the distance between the rearmost part of the steering wheel and the rearmost part of the floor of the vehicle.

2.3 Motor caravans

A motor caravan is “a motor vehicle (not being a living van) which is constructed or adapted for the carriage of passengers and their effects and which contains, as permanently installed equipment, the facilities which are reasonably necessary for enabling the vehicle to provide mobile living accommodation for its users”.

Motor caravans are not classed as goods vehicles for MOT test purposes and are therefore in class 4 or 5 depending on their seating capacity but regardless of their size or weight.

2.4 Living vans

A living van is “a vehicle, whether mechanically propelled or not, which is used for living accommodation by one or more persons and which is also used for the carriage of goods or burden which are not needed by such one or more persons for the purpose of their residence in the vehicle”.

Living vans may be type approved as either:
- passenger vehicles (M1, M2 or M3)
- goods vehicles (N1, N2 or N3)
Living vans approved as passenger vehicles must be tested as class 4 or class 5 depending on their seating capacity.

Living vans approved as N1 goods vehicles, are in either class 4 or 7 depending on their design gross weight (DGW).

Living vans approved as N2 or N3 goods vehicles (DGW over 3500kg) are subject to HGV plating and testing.

2.5 Play buses

A play bus is a motor vehicle which was originally constructed to carry more than 12 passengers but which has been adapted primarily for the carriage of playthings for children.

2.6 Ambulance

An ambulance is a motor vehicle which is specially designed and constructed (and not merely adapted) for carrying, as equipment permanently fixed to the vehicle, equipment used for medical, dental, or other health purposes and is used primarily for the carriage of persons suffering from illness, injury or disability.

2.7 Tricycles

A motor tricycle is a three wheeled vehicle with wheels symmetrically arranged, a maximum speed over 45km/h, or engine size over 50cc.

If the motor tricycle has an unladen weight not more than 450kg it is a class 3 test.

If the unladen weight is more than 450kg it is a class 4 test.

2.8 Quadricycles

A light quadricycle is a four wheeled vehicle with:
- a maximum unladen weight of 425kg
- a maximum speed of 45km/h
- not over 50cc for an internal combustion engine or 4kW for any other engine or electric motor
Sub classification category L6e-BP / L6e-BU is a vehicle equipped with:
- a maximum of two seating positions, including the seating position for the driver and enclosed driving and passenger compartment
- access by a maximum of three sides
- a maximum continuous rated or net power of 6kW
- the vehicle type-approval number recorded on the manufacturer’s plate (L6e-BP / L6e-BU)
A heavy quadricycle (L7e) is a four-wheeled vehicle with:
- a maximum unladen weight of 450kg (600kg for goods vehicles)
- a design speed of over 45km/h
- over 50cc for internal combustion engines, and a net engine power not over 15kW
- payload not over 1000kg if designed for goods
2.9 Moped

A moped is a vehicle with:
- a maximum speed of 45km/h
- not over 50cc for a petrol engine or 4kW for any other engine or electric motor
3. Who carries out MOT tests?

The testing of vehicles is conducted principally at commercial garages (authorised examiners) and by some local authorities (designated councils). These are authorised, or designated as appropriate, by DVSA, and known as vehicle testing stations (VTSs).

VTSs and their staff are subject to inspections by DVSA to ensure that testing is properly carried out. Test equipment used must be approved by DVSA.

MOT tests are carried out by testers who are specifically trained and approved. They record test results on the MOT database and sign official test documents.

VTSs may only test those classes and types of vehicle that they are authorised to test and which are of a size and weight that can be accommodated on the authorised test equipment.

DVSA staff may also carry out tests. (/guidance/mot-testing-guide/f-driver-and-vehicle-standards-agency)