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Van MOT Cost 2026: £54.85 Small, £58.60 Large (Classes 4 + 7)
Van MOT pricing splits at the 3,000kg design gross weight threshold. Vans up to 3,000kg sit in DVSA Class 4 (same as cars) with a statutory maximum of £54.85. Vans 3,000-3,500kg sit in Class 7 at £58.60. Typical garage charges run £35-50 for Class 4 vans and £40-55 for Class 7 large vans.
How much does a van MOT cost?
A van MOT costs up to £54.85 for a light van up to 3,000kg design gross weight (DVSA Class 4, the same cap as a car) or up to £58.60 for a larger van of 3,000-3,500kg (Class 7). Most garages charge £35-50 for a Class 4 van and £40-55 for a Class 7 van. These are statutory maximums frozen since 2010; a garage can charge less but never more. Which class your van falls in is set by the design gross weight (gross vehicle weight) on the VIN plate and V5C, not the empty unladen weight.
Source: DVSA maximum MOT test fees (gov.uk). Verified 16 July 2026.
Class 4 max
£54.85
Vans ≤3,000kg
Class 7 max
£58.60
Vans 3,000-3,500kg
Typical Class 4
£35-50
Light vans
Typical Class 7
£40-55
Sprinter-class
Why the Weight Class Matters
The DVSA splits van MOTs at the 3,000kg design gross weight line. Anything up to 3,000kg is Class 4, the same class and statutory fee as a car (£54.85). Anything between 3,000kg and 3,500kg is Class 7 (£58.60). Above 3,500kg, vehicles leave the conventional MOT system entirely and move into the goods-vehicle annual test framework, which is administered at DVSA testing stations rather than at high-street MOT garages; see /large-goods-vehicle-mot-cost for that distinction.
The determining figure is the design gross weight (DGW), also called the gross vehicle weight (GVW) or maximum authorised mass, shown on the VIN plate and the V5C. It is the maximum the vehicle is permitted to weigh fully laden, not its empty kerb weight. A van rated at 3,500kg GVW is a Class 7 vehicle even though empty it may weigh only around 2,200kg; a smaller van rated at 2,800kg GVW is Class 4. Always check the plated gross weight, not the unladen figure, if you are at the boundary.
Common Van Examples by Class
| Van | Design gross weight (DGW) | Class | DVSA max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Transit Custom (SWB) | Up to 3,000kg DGW | Class 4 | £54.85 |
| Vauxhall Vivaro | Up to 3,000kg DGW | Class 4 | £54.85 |
| Volkswagen Transporter T6 | Up to 3,000kg DGW | Class 4 | £54.85 |
| Citroen Berlingo / Peugeot Partner | Up to 3,000kg DGW | Class 4 | £54.85 |
| Ford Transit (Large, LWB) | Around the 3,000kg DGW line, varies by spec | Class 4 or 7 by spec | £54.85 or £58.60 |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (3.5t) | 3,000-3,500kg DGW | Class 7 | £58.60 |
| Iveco Daily 3.5t | 3,000-3,500kg DGW | Class 7 | £58.60 |
| Volkswagen Crafter (3.5t) | 3,000-3,500kg DGW | Class 7 | £58.60 |
Common Van Failure Categories
Vans face a different failure pattern from cars because they are loaded, driven harder and tend to be older at any given mileage. The recurring categories:
- Suspension. Vans carry heavy loads; springs and shocks wear faster than on cars. Sprinter-class rear leaf springs are a common high-mileage failure.
- Brakes. Heavier vehicle, more brake load. Worn pads and corroded brake lines are frequent.
- Tyres. Commercial use accelerates tread wear. Mixed-axle tyre size mismatches are an automatic fail.
- Structural corrosion. Body floor pans, sills, jacking points and rear cross-member rust on older high-mileage vans. Structural corrosion is one of the more expensive failure categories.
- Load area and body. Insecure bulkheads, missing seatbelts (if any rear seats), prescribed-area damage to the load-bay sides.
- Emissions. Light-commercial diesel emissions limits are checked under DVSA rules; DPF and turbo issues common on 100k+ mile vans.
Fleet MOT Context
Fleet operators routinely negotiate volume MOT contracts with national chains (ATS, National Tyres, Halfords Autocentres) where the per-vehicle test fee is at or below the DVSA maximum and the value sits in bundled servicing, tyre and brake-pad supply across the fleet. Single-van operators do not unlock those rates; the consumer right to the statutory cap is the floor of negotiating power.
The DVSA fee is the MOT test only. Any repair work to address a failure is separately priced and subject to 20 percent VAT on parts and labour, which is reclaimable for VAT-registered businesses on commercial vehicles used for business purposes.
Van MOT Cost: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a van MOT cost in 2026?
A van MOT costs up to £54.85 for a light van up to 3,000kg design gross weight (DVSA Class 4, the same cap as a car) or up to £58.60 for a larger van of 3,000-3,500kg (Class 7). Most garages charge £35-50 for a Class 4 van and £40-55 for a Class 7 van. These are statutory maximums, unchanged since 2010; a garage can charge less but never more.
How much is a Class 7 MOT?
A Class 7 MOT is capped at £58.60 in 2026. Class 7 covers goods vans between 3,000kg and 3,500kg design gross weight, such as a long-wheelbase Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Iveco Daily or Volkswagen Crafter. Typical garage charges run £40-55. The £58.60 statutory maximum has been frozen since April 2010.
What is the difference between a Class 4 and Class 7 van MOT?
The split is the 3,000kg design gross weight line. A van up to 3,000kg is tested as Class 4 at £54.85, the same class and fee as a car. A van between 3,000kg and 3,500kg is tested as Class 7 at £58.60. Above 3,500kg the vehicle leaves the MOT system and moves into the DVSA goods-vehicle annual test.
How do I know if my van is Class 4 or Class 7?
Check the design gross weight, also called the gross vehicle weight or maximum authorised mass, shown on the vehicle's VIN plate and on the V5C. If it is up to 3,000kg the van is Class 4 (£54.85); if it is 3,000-3,500kg it is Class 7 (£58.60). This is the vehicle's maximum permitted laden weight, not its empty (unladen) weight. Identical-looking vans can differ: a short-wheelbase Transit may be Class 4 while a heavier-rated long-wheelbase version is Class 7.
Is a van MOT more expensive than a car MOT?
Not for most vans. A light van up to 3,000kg is a Class 4 vehicle, capped at exactly the same £54.85 as a car. Only larger 3,000-3,500kg vans move to Class 7 at £58.60, which is £3.75 more than the car cap. The bigger cost difference is usually the repair bill, as vans are worked harder and tend to be older at any given mileage.
Do you pay VAT on a van MOT?
No. The MOT test fee is VAT-exempt, so the £54.85 or £58.60 figure is what you pay. Any repair work to pass the test is subject to standard 20% VAT on parts and labour, which is reclaimable for VAT-registered businesses using the van for business purposes.
Above 3,500kg?
Goods vehicles over 3,500kg leave the MOT system and move into the separate DVSA annual goods-vehicle test framework.
Large Goods Vehicle Testing