In the UK, if you want to drive a car that is more than 3 years old, you should possess an MOT certificate for it. Without the certificate, you are legally forbidden to drive on the public roads of the UK, along with the fact that you would have to pay a hefty fine. The MOT test Leicester is a significant document for any vehicle because it is a legal proof of the vehicle’s safety, emission standards, and overall roadworthiness. For successful testing, there are a few things you should be familiar with. An in-depth understanding of the test, the different classes and how they affect the price of the testing will assist you in preparing your vehicle. No, you will not have to search and research everything up, because our guide will offer you the detailed information, all at one place!
What is the MOT test? What makes it so crucial?
It has been found that many vehicle owners are not well-versed with the MOT tests and procedures. In simplest terms, the MOT is a government-specified test that checks your vehicle’s safety standards, emission standards, and overall roadworthiness. This test is compulsory for every vehicle that has crossed the age of 3 years and must be completed every 12 months. When the test was initially introduced in the UK, it consisted of a few basic checks for your vehicle, but now it has become a comprehensive test that inspects around 20 parts and components of your vehicle.
The MOT was introduced by the Ministry of Transport, which has been abbreviated to form the term MOT. Now known as the Department of Transport, it is responsible for overseeing the transport network of the state, along with controlling vehicle emissions, managing the safety and emission standards and the future of transport, or solving any transport-related security and civil issues.
The status of your vehicle regarding the MOT Leicester is reported on the MOT certificate, which is typically of two types. The VT 20 certificate, which you get when your vehicle passes the MOT. This certificate is valid for the next 12 months, after which you will be required to get your vehicle tested again. If your vehicle fails the MOT, you are given the VT 30 certificate, along with a detailed report of the faulty issues. The car should then be retested within the next 10 days. Both of these certificates are passed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, also called DVSA.
What are MOT ‘classes’?
With the huge number of vehicles on the roads of the UK, and the extensive nature of MOT testing, dividing the test based on the vehicle type becomes crucial. For efficient testing, you must remain aware of the class your vehicle belongs to. This simplifies the testing procedure and reduces your hassles, since not all centres offer testing for every class. For instance, our centre has been authorised by the DVSA for class 4 MOT Leicester.
The cost of your vehicle’s MOT testing also varies according to the class it belongs to. Hence, we advise you to choose your vehicle’s class to enjoy hassle-free testing:
Class 1.
Vehicle Type: Motorcycles with engine size up to 200 cc. They might or might not have sidecars.
1st MOT: 3 years old
Average MOT cost: £29- £38
Class 2.
Vehicle Type: Motorcycles with engine size exceeding 200 cc. Sidecars may or may not be fitted.
1st MOT: 3 years old
Average MOT cost: £29- £38
Class 3.
Vehicle Type: Vehicles that are three-wheeled with an unladen weight of up to 450 kg.
1st MOT: 3 years old
Average MOT cost: £38
Class 4.
Vehicle Type:
Vehicles that are three-wheeled with an unladen weight exceeding 450 kg.
Motor Caravans
Cars of upto 8 passenger seats.
Quads with 400 kgs of the maximum unladen weight.
Public service vehicles and private hires. Up to 8 passenger seats are permitted under this class.
Dual-purpose vehicles
9-12 seated ambulances and private passenger vehicles.
Goods vehicles with the design gross weight of up to 3000 kgs
1st MOT: 3 years old, except for ambulances that have the 1st MOT due date as 1 year old.
Average MOT cost: £54-£65
Class 5.
Vehicle Type:
Private passenger vehicles. (Seats in the range of 13-16 or more than 16.)
Ambulances (13-16 or more than 16 passenger seats)
Play buses.
1st MOT: 1 year old
Average MOT cost: £59-£125
Class 7.
Vehicle Type: Goods vehicles with a design gross weight of more than 3000 kg and not exceeding 3500 kg.
1st MOT: 3 years old.
Average MOT cost: £59
Is my vehicle class 4 or class 7?
Gross weight is what differentiates class 4 vehicles from class 7 ones. This is also known as different terms such as, the maximum laden weight, the maximum authorised mass (MAM) or the gross vehicle weight (GVW). These terms refer to the maximum weight the vehicle’s chassis can hold.
Find out your vehicle’s class using the maximum laden weight, which is usually provided in your vehicle’s manual. A vehicle belonging to class 7 will usually not weigh 3,500 kgs, but its load capacity could be up to 3,500 kgs.
Testing for your vehicle’s safety and environmental standards should not be a difficult and challenging task. We strive to make MOT tests easily accessible for every vehicle owner. So, book your MOT appointment online or at our centre, for an uncomplicated testing of your vehicle.