Class 4 MOT — What It Covers, Cost & Cars Included

A Class 4 MOT is the standard test for most vehicles on UK roads. It applies to cars, light goods vehicles (vans) up to 3,000kg design gross weight, and passenger vehicles with up to eight passenger seats, as well as dual-purpose vehicles, taxis and most motor caravans. If you drive an ordinary car or a small van, you almost certainly need a Class 4 MOT.

The DVSA sets a maximum fee for a Class 4 MOT of £54.85. This is a cap, not a fixed price — many garages charge less, and promotional rates around £30–45 are common. The fee covers the test itself; any repairs needed to pass are charged separately. A partial retest after a failure may be free or reduced depending on the garage and the timescale.

A Class 4 MOT checks the parts of the vehicle that affect road safety and emissions. This includes brakes, steering and suspension, tyres and wheels, lights, the windscreen, wipers and washers, seatbelts, the horn, the exhaust and emissions, the bodywork and structure, and number plates. It is a safety and emissions inspection, not a mechanical service — it does not assess engine condition, clutch or gearbox wear.

Class 4 covers most cars, vans up to 3,000kg design gross weight, and vehicles with up to eight passenger seats (not counting the driver). Heavier vans between 3,000kg and 3,500kg fall into Class 7 instead, and passenger vehicles with more than twelve seats fall into Class 5. Motorcycles are tested under Classes 1 and 2. Check your V5C logbook for the design gross weight if you are unsure.

Most cars and light vans need their first MOT three years after the date of first registration, and then every year after that. You can be fined for driving without a valid MOT (except to a pre-booked test). You can have the test done up to a month (minus a day) before your current certificate expires and keep the same renewal date.