What Is a Class 4 MOT?
A Class 4 MOT covers private passenger cars with up to 8 passenger seats. This is the most common type of MOT test in the UK — covering the vast majority of family cars, hatchbacks, saloons, estates, and SUVs.
What Does the Maximum Fee Cover?
The £54.85 maximum covers the full MOT test — typically 45–60 minutes of inspection covering lights, steering, suspension, brakes, tyres, bodywork, emissions, windscreen, seat belts, and registration plates.
It does not cover repairs. If your car fails, you'll pay separately for any work needed. Get quotes from multiple garages before committing to repairs.
What Should You Confirm Before Booking?
The maximum fee is a ceiling rather than a required price. Ask the centre to confirm:
- The price for the MOT test itself and whether it is an online-only offer
- Whether repairs, collection or other services are optional and priced separately
- The centre's cancellation and late-arrival policy
- How it applies the official partial-retest rules if the vehicle fails
Retest Fees
If your car fails, you can get it retested. Rules:
- If you leave the car at the test centre for repair and it is retested within 10 working days, the partial retest is free.
- If you take the car away, a same-centre retest by the end of the next working day is free only for the items listed by GOV.UK.
- If you return to the same centre within 10 working days after taking it away, a partial retest fee can apply.
Tips to Pay Less
- Compare the final test price directly with several authorised centres
- Check whether an advertised price depends on booking and paying online
- Compare an MOT-only quote with any service bundle rather than assuming the bundle is cheaper
- Do simple pre-test checks on lights, tyres, wipers and washer fluid