When life gets busy, it can be difficult to find the time for an MOT test. Luckily, an MOT usually won’t take more than a couple of hours to complete.
The time it takes to carry out an MOT can vary depending on whether your vehicle passes or fails the test.
Read on and find out how long an MOT takes, how long your MOT is valid for, and how you can prepare your vehicle for an upcoming test.
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How Long Does an MOT Take?
An MOT test usually takes between 45 and 60 minutes to complete. If you choose to book an MOT and a service together, this can take up to 4 hours.
That being said, the make and model of the vehicle can have an effect on how long the MOT will take.
Newer cars don’t take just as long as older cars. Older cars can take longer as there may be additional wear and tear to address.
If your car passes, you may even be able to drive away from the garage an hour after the appointment.
Of course, the more issues that the tester finds, the longer the MOT will take.
When your car has been well-maintained with regular servicing, the MOT can take less time to complete.
You may have to wait a bit if the garage you book with has several MOTs booked in on the same day, or a limited number of ramps available. You can expect to be without your vehicle at least half the day.
Best to ask the technicians when you drop your vehicle off for a rough idea of how long you will be without your car.
Will an MOT Take Longer If My Car Fails?
If your vehicle fails its MOT, then it may need to stay at the garage for a few days whilst the necessary repair work is carried out.
Any major or dangerous faults must be rectified, and then the vehicle must be retested before a MOT certificate can be issued.
Make sure that you keep any paperwork relating to the repairs, as this can be useful for prospective buyers if you ever plan on selling your car.
How Long Does an MOT and Full Service Take?
When booked together, an MOT and full service can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to complete.
A garage’s ability to carry out both services on the same day will depend on their workload, the availability of ramps, and whether or not they have the spare parts required for certain repairs.
How Long Is MOT Valid?
An MOT is valid for a year.
Once your car passes its MOT, it will not need another test for a year.
Your certificate expires 1 year on, on the same day that the car passed its MOT.
Be sure to make a note on your phone or calendar for around the week it expires, so that you always have a valid MOT certificate.
Your MOT will run out at midnight on the expiry date.
There is no 14-day grace period as some people believe.
Even booking a test on the expiry date can get you in trouble if you are stopped by the police and can’t prove that you are on your way to a pre-booked MOT.
You can book up to a month – minus a day – in advance of the expiry date if you want to keep the same date for the next year.
For example, if your MOT is due on May 31st, you can book between May 2nd and May 30th to keep the same date.
FAQs
Can an MOT Take All Day?
Do You Have to Sit and Wait for an MOT to be Completed?
