Class 4 MOT — What It Covers, Cost & Cars Included
The Class 4 MOT is the test almost every car and light van on UK roads needs each year. Enter your registration to see the vehicle's MOT history and details.
There is no MOT grace period. The day after expiry you are already driving illegally.
Free check — see MOT history, advisories and test results.
Most Cars
& vans to 3,000kg
£54.85 max
DVSA fee cap
Up to 8 seats
Passenger seats
Yearly Test
After 3 years
What Counts as a Class 4 Vehicle?
Class 4 is the most common MOT class. If you drive an ordinary car or a small van, this is almost certainly the test you need.
Cars
Virtually every passenger car sold in the UK is a Class 4 vehicle, regardless of make, fuel type or engine size.
Light Vans
Light goods vehicles (vans) up to 3,000kg design gross weight fall into Class 4 — the figure on the V5C, not the kerb weight.
Up to 8 Seats
Passenger vehicles with up to eight passenger seats (excluding the driver). More than that moves up to Class 5.
Dual-Purpose & 4x4s
Dual-purpose vehicles and most 4x4s used as cars are tested as Class 4 provided they meet the weight and seat limits.
Taxis & Motor Caravans
Taxis, ambulances and most motor caravans (campervans) under 3,000kg are also classed as Class 4.
Not Class 4?
Vans over 3,000kg are Class 7, large passenger vehicles are Class 5, and motorcycles are Classes 1 and 2.
What a Class 4 MOT Tests
The MOT is a safety and emissions inspection, not a mechanical service. The tester checks the components that affect road safety and the environment.
Brakes and braking performance
Steering and suspension
Tyres, wheels and tread depth
Lights, indicators and reflectors
Windscreen, wipers and washers
Seatbelts and their security
Exhaust, emissions and fuel system
Bodywork, structure and corrosion
Horn, number plates and VIN
Mirrors and the driver's view
The Class 4 fee is capped by the DVSA at £54.85, though many garages charge less. Need a heavier van tested instead? See our Class 7 MOT guide, or read the full Class 4 vs Class 7 comparison.
Class 4 MOT — FAQ
Common questions about the Class 4 MOT test.
What is a Class 4 MOT?
How much does a Class 4 MOT cost?
What does a Class 4 MOT test cover?
Which vehicles need a Class 4 MOT?
How often do I need a Class 4 MOT?
More checks before you buy
Run all of these on any UK car before you pay a deposit — every one is free to start.
Full Car Check
MOT, mileage, tax and spec by reg — the free starting point.
MOT History Check
Every test, advisory and failure on the DVSA record — free.
DVLA Vehicle Check
The DVLA registration record and DVSA MOT history in one search.
Car Import Check
No free import marker exists — how to read the four indicators instead.
Mileage / Clocking Check
Spots odometer rollbacks and implausible jumps across MOTs.
MOT Failure History
Pass-rate and recurring-failure patterns from MOT history.
Outstanding Finance
Why unpaid finance can cost you the car — and how to verify.
Stolen Car Check
The warning signs of a stolen vehicle before you pay a deposit.
Write-Off Check
Cat A/B/S/N explained and what a write-off means for buyers.
Cat S / Cat N Check
Insurance write-off categories explained — is it worth buying?
HPI Check Alternative
What each check covers and costs — an honest price comparison.
Car Tax Check
Tax status, due date and SORN by registration — free.
Insurance Group Check
The 1–50 insurance group for any model — what it will cost to cover.
Is My Car Insured?
How to confirm a car's insurance status before you drive it away.
Car Tax Calculator
Estimate the annual VED road tax for any car by reg or spec.
Car Recall Check
Check DVSA safety recalls for the make and model, free.
Selling Your Car
See the record a buyer will pull on your reg — before they pull it.
Service History: Who Holds It
No site can look one up. Who really has the record, by make.
Used Car Buying Checklist
The full step-by-step checklist before you buy a used car.
Buying a Cat S / Cat N Car
Is a write-off worth it? The honest costs, risks and decision rule.
Check Finance Before Buying
Why there's no free finance check — and how to verify before you pay.
What Does HPI Clear Mean?
Why an 'HPI clear' result does NOT mean accident-free.
How to Spot a Clocked Car
The tell-tale signs of mileage fraud before you buy.
What Is a Cat S Car?
Category S write-off meaning — structural damage, explained.
What Is a Cat N Car?
Category N write-off meaning — and why 'non-structural' isn't 'minor'.
Check Your Vehicle's MOT History
Enter any UK registration to see every Class 4 MOT test, advisory and result — free and instant.
A dangerous defect is up to £2,500, 3 penalty points and a possible ban — even with a valid MOT certificate.
See what a tester already flagged on this vehicle
Advisories are the faults a tester saw and let pass. They are the single best predictor of your next failure — and they are free to read.
- Every advisory ever logged against this registration
- Every failure and the exact defect that caused it
- The real expiry date, so you can book inside the free window
Free · Official DVLA & DVSA data · No sign-up