Cost guide
MOT cost: the fee, when it’s due and what it leads to
The most an MOT test can cost for a car in Great Britain is £54.85, the official maximum fee; many test centres charge less. A car's first MOT is due 3 years after it was first registered, then every year. Over a typical ownership the test fee itself is small: the bigger cost is usually the repairs and replacement parts an MOT finds.
Published 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto
See MOT and repair costs for a specific car
Enter a UK registration: 73 Auto counts every MOT due while you'd own the car and costs what its latest MOT flagged. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
How many MOTs you'll pay for
The number of MOTs that fall due during a 3-year ownership depends on how old the car is when you buy it. This is the same count 73 Auto uses in its reports, at the maximum fee.
| Car's age when bought | MOTs due in 3 years | Total MOT fees (maximum) |
|---|---|---|
| New | 1 | £54.85 |
| 1 year | 2 | £109.70 |
| 2 years | 3 | £164.55 |
| 3 years | 3 | £164.55 |
| 5 years | 3 | £164.55 |
| 8 years | 3 | £164.55 |
Whole years of age; the first MOT falls on the third anniversary of first registration. In Northern Ireland the first test is due at four years and the fee differs, so these figures are for Great Britain.
The cost an MOT leads to
The fee is the predictable part. What varies is what the test finds: a failure has to be fixed before the car can pass, and advisories are items the tester expects to need attention soon, such as tyres approaching the legal limit or brake wear.
73 Auto treats the car's own latest MOT as evidence. Failures and advisories on it are costed as a near-term repair allowance in maintenance and repairs, tyre advisories as a near-term tyre replacement in tyre cost, and corrosion is only costed when the MOT history records it. How often each part fails on similar cars comes from DVSA's anonymised results for tens of millions of MOT tests.
To see a specific car's MOT status and full test history, including past advisories, use the MOT check.
What the MOT figures are based on
| Input | Where it comes from | Type |
|---|---|---|
| MOT fee | Official maximum MOT fee for a car in Great Britain | Official rate |
| When MOTs fall due | The car’s first-registration date from DVLA | Official data |
| Failures and advisories | The car’s DVSA MOT history | Official data |
| How often parts fail on similar cars | DVSA anonymised bulk MOT test results | Official data |
| Repair prices | 73 Auto reference data | 73 Auto estimate |
Full detail on every source is on the data sources page, and how each category is calculated is on the methodology page.
Common questions
Is the MOT the same as a service?
No. The MOT is a legal roadworthiness test; a service is maintenance such as an oil change and new filters. 73 Auto counts both in its servicing and MOT line, and repairs separately.
Does a new car need an MOT?
Not until it is 3 years old in Great Britain. A car you buy new and keep for 3 years has 1 MOT due in that time.
Limitations
The fee is a maximum, not a price list: test centres can charge less. Repair costs are 73 Auto estimates based on similar cars, not a garage quote.
How 73 Auto works this out
Every category is explained in the methodology, and the data sources page lists which inputs are official data and which are 73 Auto estimates. How pages are written and kept up to date is set out in the editorial policy; to report a factual error, see corrections.
Related guides
- Car maintenance costServicing, the MOT, wear items and repairs.
- MOT checkCurrent MOT status, expiry date and full test history.
- Cost of keeping an old carWhat changes as a car ages, and how to compare keeping it with replacing it.
- Used car cost calculatorWhat a used car is likely to cost to own, before you buy it.