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MOT Test Centres: 22,858 Authorised Stations
Every vehicle testing station in England, Scotland and Wales that DVSA listed as active on 30 Sept 2026, grouped by region and council district, with the vehicle classes each one is authorised to test. The car test is capped at £54.85 everywhere; most stations charge £30-45.
Stations listed
22,858
Active on 30 Sept 2026
Test motorcycles
3,222
14% hold Class 1 or 2
Test Class 7 vans
6,793
30% hold Class 7 (3,000-3,500kg)
Council districts
349
across 11 regions and nations
Stations by Country and Region
| Region | Stations | Motorcycles | Class 7 vans | Districts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 19,392 | 2,752 | 5,699 | 295 |
| London | 1,457 | 207 | 375 | 33 |
| South East | 3,162 | 421 | 817 | 64 |
| South West | 2,585 | 361 | 747 | 26 |
| East of England | 2,346 | 358 | 720 | 45 |
| East Midlands | 1,925 | 364 | 627 | 35 |
| West Midlands | 2,196 | 298 | 695 | 30 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 2,173 | 287 | 651 | 15 |
| North West | 2,596 | 335 | 768 | 35 |
| North East | 952 | 121 | 299 | 12 |
| Scotland | 2,082 | 257 | 651 | 32 |
| Scotland (all districts) | 2,082 | 257 | 651 | 32 |
| Wales | 1,384 | 213 | 443 | 22 |
| Wales (all districts) | 1,384 | 213 | 443 | 22 |
What an Authorised MOT Test Station Is
An MOT can only be carried out at a vehicle testing station (VTS) that DVSA has authorised, by a nominated tester who has passed DVSA's training and is subject to its disciplinary regime. Each station carries a site number, five to seven characters such as 0003AW or V110588, and that number is printed on every MOT certificate the station issues. The 2020s-format V- and S-prefixed numbers now make up about half the list as older sites are re-authorised.
Authorisation is granted per vehicle class, because each class needs different equipment: a motorcycle brake tester and headlamp aim rig for Class 1 and 2, a longer and stronger lift for Class 7 vans up to 3,500kg, and a lane rated for 13-seat-plus passenger vehicles for Class 5. That is why 13,741 of the 22,858 listed stations (60%) test Class 4 cars and light vans only, while 3,222 test motorcycles, 6,793 test Class 7 vans, 3,972 test Class 5 passenger vehicles and 829 test Class 3 three-wheelers. 857 stations do not test cars at all (motorcycle-only or PSV-only sites).
The register holds the trading name, address, phone number and class authorisations. It does not hold prices, opening hours, websites or whether the station also does repairs. Local councils run 154 of the listed stations, usually inside their fleet workshops; the big chains (Halfords, Kwik Fit, ATS Euromaster, Formula One Autocentres, Protyre and the dealer groups) account for about 1,529.
| Class | Vehicles | Stations authorised | Share | DVSA max fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Motorcycles up to 200cc | 3,221 | 14% | £29.65 |
| Class 2 | Motorcycles over 200cc | 3,221 | 14% | £29.65 |
| Class 3 | Three-wheeled vehicles up to 450kg | 829 | 4% | £37.80 |
| Class 4 | Cars, light vans up to 3,000kg, motor caravans, taxis, minibuses up to 12 seats | 22,001 | 96% | £54.85 |
| Class 5 | Private passenger vehicles with 13 or more seats | 3,972 | 17% | £59.55 to £80.65 |
| Class 7 | Goods vehicles 3,000 to 3,500kg | 6,793 | 30% | £58.60 |
The £54.85 Cap, and Why Most Stations Charge Less
DVSA sets a statutory maximum test fee for each class: £54.85 for a Class 4 car, motor caravan or light van, £29.65 for a motorcycle, £37.80 for a three-wheeler, £58.60 for a Class 7 van and £59.55 to £80.65 for a Class 5 passenger vehicle. The caps have not changed since April 2010 and apply at every station on this list, in England, Scotland and Wales alike.
No station can charge above the cap, and most charge well below it: £30-45 is typical for a car, with chain and online deals at £20-30 and an average booked price of £35 (BookMyGarage 2025 data). The test is priced as a loss leader that brings the car onto the ramp, where any repair work found during the inspection is charged at normal rates. London garages tend to sit nearest the cap; the north of England is cheapest. A partial retest is free if the vehicle stays at the station for repair and is retested within 10 working days.
Source: DVSA published MOT test fee schedule on gov.uk, re-verified 24 August 2026; typical charges from this site's average cost and regional price guides.
Districts With the Most Test Stations
The 24 council districts with the most listed stations. Every district page lists all of its stations, with the classes each tests and a phone number.
Chains and Councils in the Register
| Operator | Listed stations | Price guide |
|---|---|---|
| Kwik Fit | 539 | Kwik Fit MOT cost |
| Halfords Autocentre | 486 | Halfords Autocentre MOT cost |
| Formula One Autocentres | 166 | Formula One Autocentres MOT cost |
| Council-run test centre | 154 | Council MOT centres |
| Arnold Clark | 130 | no price page |
| Evans Halshaw | 79 | no price page |
| Protyre | 67 | Protyre MOT cost |
| Stoneacre | 62 | no price page |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many MOT test stations are there in Great Britain?
22,858 test stations were listed as active in DVSA's Active MOT test stations dataset dated 30 September 2026: 19,392 in England, 2,082 in Scotland and 1,384 in Wales. Northern Ireland is not in the list because its MOTs are run by the DVA at government test centres.
How many MOT stations test motorcycles?
3,222 of the 22,858 listed stations (14%) hold Class 1 or Class 2 authorisation for motorcycles. 3,221 hold Class 1 (up to 200cc) and 3,221 hold Class 2 (over 200cc); almost every station that tests one tests both. The motorcycle test is capped at £29.65.
How many stations can test a Class 7 van?
6,793 stations (30%) are authorised for Class 7, goods vehicles between 3,000kg and 3,500kg such as a long-wheelbase Transit or a Sprinter. The Class 7 test is capped at £58.60. Smaller vans under 3,000kg test as Class 4 at 22,001 stations.
What does 'authorised MOT test station' mean?
A vehicle testing station (VTS) that DVSA has authorised to carry out MOT tests for specific vehicle classes. Each station has a site number that is printed on the MOT certificate. Authorisation is per class: a garage can be authorised for cars (Class 4) but not motorcycles (Class 1 and 2), or for large vans (Class 7) but not minibuses (Class 5).
Is a station on this list guaranteed to be testing today?
No. Each station was listed as active on 30 September 2026, the date of the DVSA dataset this page is built from. DVSA republishes the list roughly every three months, and authorisations can be added, suspended or withdrawn in between. Confirm with the station, or check the certificate's site number against the current GOV.UK list.
How much can an MOT test station charge?
No more than the DVSA statutory maximum for the class: £54.85 for a Class 4 car, £29.65 for a motorcycle, £37.80 for a three-wheeler, £58.60 for a Class 7 van and £59.55 to £80.65 for a Class 5 passenger vehicle. Stations can charge less and most do, typically £30-45 for a car, because the test brings in repair work. The fee is VAT-exempt.
Which area has the most MOT test stations?
South East is the region with the most listed stations (3,162). By council district, North Yorkshire (339), Birmingham (317), Somerset (311), Cornwall (304), Leeds (244) lead the list.
Why do only some stations have their own page here?
9,116 stations that hold a motorcycle, three-wheeler, Class 5 or Class 7 authorisation have a dedicated page, because that authorisation is what a rider or van driver needs to know before booking. The 13,741 stations that test Class 4 cars and light vans only are listed in full, with address, phone and site number, on their district page.
MOT Cost Guides
MOT Fees by Vehicle Class
The full DVSA cap schedule: £29.65 bike to £124.50 large PSV, with typical charges.
Cheapest MOT
Chain deals from £20-30, comparison platforms, council centres and the cheap-MOT trap.
Average MOT Cost 2026
£35 booked, £46 standalone (BookMyGarage 2025) against the £54.85 cap.
When Is My MOT Due?
Check the date and use the one-month early booking window.
Motorcycle MOT Cost
£29.65 max for Class 1 and 2; sidecar £37.80.
Van MOT Cost
£54.85 under 3,000kg (Class 4), £58.60 for 3,000-3,500kg (Class 7).
Bus and PSV MOT Cost
Class 5 £59.55-£80.65 by seat count; Class 5a up to £124.50.
Car MOT Cost (Class 4)
£54.85 cap, £30-45 typical, what Class 4 covers.
Where this listing comes from
- Register: DVSA Active MOT test stations (GOV.UK publication), dataset dated 30 Sept 2026. Every station on this page was listed as active on 30 Sept 2026. DVSA updates the list roughly quarterly; authorisations can change between releases, so check with the station before travelling.
- Licence: Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Geography: districts, regions and distances derived from postcodes via postcodes.io (ONS Postcode Directory). Contains OS data (c) Crown copyright and database right 2026; Contains Royal Mail data (c) Royal Mail copyright and database right 2026; Contains National Statistics data (c) Crown copyright and database right 2026.
- Company details: Company details from Companies House, Basic Company Data snapshot 2026-05-01, matched by name and postcode; no officer or personal data is used. ukcompanyfinder.com is a Digital Signet site.
- Not on the register: prices, opening hours, websites and booking. The £54.85 cap and typical charges on this page come from this site's verified fee guide, not from DVSA's station list.
- Verify or remove a listing: station owners can email [email protected]. Removal requests are honoured on the next refresh.