MOT Test FAQ by Hampton Motors

If your car is over three years old (and its a standard car with up to 8 seats), it will need an MOT test every year. That it unless it’s a classic car registered more than 40 years ago and isn’t substantially modified.

Hampton Motors MOT test — Car MOT test in progress by Hampton Motors

Providing reputable MOT tests in Hampton is one of the reasons why we’re continuing to grow and increase our customer base, especially since Tudor Road Garage and Aldersens Hampton closed in 2018.

We get through a fair few MOT tests at Hampton Motors, so we’ve put togther a list of frequently answered questions below.

What is the MOT test and what does it involve?

The purpose of the MOT is to test the important parts of your vehicle to ensure they meet certain legal standards. Remember the test doesn’t cover routine servicing such as the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox, or oil changes. It’s primarily focused ensuring your vehicle is safe for use on the highway and won’t cause unnecessary accidents.

Thanks to the digitisation from the DVLA, you can now check your car MOT and tax status online. There is also an MOT history service which allows you to check the results from previous MOT tests, which is especially useful for buying a used car. There is also an MOT reminder service to email a reminder when your MOT is due.

Our MOT tests are completely unbiased and independent

We charge our customers a fixed price of £40, which is trade the price we pay our MOT garage in Hampton. As we are completely independent of the process, we remain unbiased and the pass/fail results are unaffected. Equally, the MOT garage we use isn’t under any financial pressure to unnecessary fail cars either. We don’t add a penny on top, and we don’t offer cheap MOT tests or vouchers.

How much does an MOT in Hampton typically cost?

The maximum price for an MOT test is £54.85, but most garages charge around £50, with some national franchises charging as little as £25. But don’t be attracted to these cheap MOT offers, because the garages need to cover the running costs.

The problem with cheap MOT tests

To help you understand why you need to be aware of cheap MOT tests, let’s look at the business model of running a workshop. Car garages are expensive to start up, which is why the “UK’s average garage labour rate now stands at £74.33 per hour” according to WhatCar. For reference, we charge £65 per hour. It can cost up to £100k to start up a new MOT station, which is why so many new premises are owned by PLCs.

An MOT tests typically between 45 minutes and an hour. So when you consider that the costs of rent, business rates, heating, tooling, utilities, sundries and salaries that have to be paid, how can an MOT garage cover this at a cost below the average hourly rate?

Of course, MOT garages service by making money from the MOT repairs from the cars tested. And if they are offering substantially cheaper MOT tests in Hampton or anywhere in the country, there may be under pressure to fail your car.

When can I get my car MOT tested?

You can get an MOT test earlier, but the renewal date for the following year will change to one year (minus a day) from the date the vehicle last passed its MOT.

Can I drive my car if the MOT has expired?

Is is illegal to drive a car on the highway if the MOT expired, unless you are driving to a pre-booked MOT or repair centre. Outside of these examples you can be fined or prosecuted.

Why we offer completely independent MOT repair services

By using an external suppler of MOT tests, we remain completely unbiased and indepdnet, much like the MOT test offered by come councils. It also means we can focus on offering the best possible service to repair or maintain your car, and why we have such a good reputation in Hampton.

The MOT test rule changes: 20 May 2018

On 20 May 2018 new MOT test rules were introduced which cover five areas. The old categories of pass, fail or advise has been replaced with a more comprehensive system of five categories of dangerous, major, minor, advisories and pass. There are also stricter rules for diesel emissions, and more items checked such as fluid leaks and contaminated brake fluid. There are also visual changes to the MOT certificate which covers more detail, and some vehicles over 40 years old will no longer need to be tested. For more information on the MOT changes of 2018, see the government website.

Book your MOT Test at Hampton Motors