All vehicles will fall into a certain MOT class, depending on the weight, engine size and type of vehicle.
The majority of standard 3 or 5 door passenger vehicles on the road are Class 4, and there are six main MOT classes which a vehicle can be.
Read on and learn which vehicles fall under each MOT Class, and find out which MOT Class your vehicle is.
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Which Class Is My Vehicle?
Different vehicles need different checks as part of their MOT.
In the table below, you can see which MOT Class your vehicle falls into.
| Type of Vehicle | MOT Class |
| Motorcycle, with or without sidecar, engine size up to 200cc | 1 |
| Motorcycle, with or without sidecar, engine size over 200 cc | 2 |
| 3-wheeled vehicle, up to 450kg unladen weight | 3 |
| 3-wheeled vehicle, over 450kg unladen weight | 4 |
| Car with up to 8 passenger seats | 4 |
| Caravan/Motorhome | 4 |
| Quadbike, up to 400kg max unladen weight | 4 |
| Dual purpose vehicle | 4 |
| Private hire/public service vehicle with up to 8 seats | 4 |
| Taxi | 4 |
| Private passenger vehicle/ambulance with 9-12 passenger seats | 4 |
| Goods vehicle, up to 3,000kg gross weight | 4 |
| 9-12 passenger seat Class 4 vehicle with a seatbelt installation check | 4a |
| Private passenger vehicles and ambulances, with 13+ seats | 5 |
| Play bus | 5 |
| 13+ seat passenger Class 5 vehicle with a seatbelt installation check | 5a |
| Goods vehicle, 3,000-3,500kg gross weight | 7 |
What Is an MOT Class?
Every vehicle is categorised into an MOT Class, so that MOT test centres can perform the appropriate checks on the right vehicles.
Class 1
Class 1 MOTs cover small motorcycles, with an engine size of up to 200cc, or for motorbikes with sidecars similarly up to 200cc.
Class 2
Class 2 is for any type of motorcycle which is over 200cc. These vehicles can be with or without side cars.
Class 3
Class 3 MOTs are for 3-wheel vehicles of up to 450kg unladen weight.
Class 4
Class 4 is for cars with up to 8 passenger seats, private passenger vehicles with up to 12 passenger seats, and goods and services vehicles with a gross weight of up to 3,000kg.
In addition, Class 4 is for 3-wheeled vehicles, which are over 450kg unladen weight. Class 4 is also for motor caravans, dual purpose vehicles, and service vehicles like ambulances.
Class 5
Class 5 includes private passenger vehicles and ambulances with 13 to 16 passenger seats, and more than 16 passenger seats. Class 5 also includes play buses and coaches.
Class 7
Class 7 is for goods vehicles of over 3,000kg up to 3,500kg design gross weight, such as large transit vans and lorries.
Vehicles over 3,500kg will also go through an Annual Test conducted by an Authorised Test Facility (ATF) or at the DVSA test station.
This test cannot be carried out at a local repair centre due to the vehicle’s size.
Class 4a and Class 5a
Class 4 vehicles with 9 to 12 passenger seats will require a seat belt check, meaning they will fall under the category of Class 4a.
Class 5 vehicles with over 13 passenger seats which require a seat belt check will be categorised as Class 5a.
What Is a Class 4 MOT?
A Class 4 MOT is the most common test completed in the UK.
Most drivers will receive a Class 4 test when they take their car or light commercial vehicle to a local test centre.
| Seats & Seat Belts | Warning Lights | Switches (position lamp, headlights, hazard lights) | Windscreen Condition, Wipers & Washers | Brake Controls | Steering Wheel & Column | Doors, Mirrors & Horn |
| Licence Plates | Lights & Licence Plate Lights | Indicators & Hazard Lights | Headlights & Aim | Brake Lights, Fog Lights & Reflectors | Wheels & Tyres | Shock Absorbers |
| Mirrors, Wiper Blades & Fuel Tank Cap | Boot Lid, Loading Doors, Bonnet | Towbars | Bodywork Condition | Chassis | Brake System | Exhaust & Fuel Systems |
| Speed Limiter (if applicable) | Steering & Power Steering Components | Suspension Components | Fuel Tank | Drive Shafts (if applicable) | Emissions | Wheel Bearings |
What Is a Class 5 MOT?
A Class 5 MOT is a more specialised test, designed for vehicles with more seats.
In the following table, we have highlighted the main differences between a Class 4 and Class 5 MOT in bold text.
|
Seats & Seat Belts |
Warning Lights |
Switches (position lamp, headlights, hazard lights) |
Windscreen Condition, Wipers & Washers |
Brake Controls |
|
Steering Wheel & Column |
Doors, Mirrors & Horn |
Speedometer & Driver Controls |
Licence Plates |
Lights & Licence Plate Lights |
|
Indicators & Hazard Lights |
Headlights & Aim |
Brake Lights, Fog Lights & Reflectors |
Wheels & Tyres |
Shock Absorbers |
|
Mirrors, Wiper Blades & Fuel Tank Cap |
Glazing |
Doors, Boot Lid, Loading Doors, Bonnet |
Towbars |
Bodywork Condition |
|
Chassis |
Brake System |
Exhaust & Fuel Systems |
Speed Limiter (if applicable) |
Steering & Power Steering Components |
|
Suspension Components |
Fuel Tank |
Drive Shafts (if applicable) |
Emissions |
Wheel Bearings |
What Is a Class 7 MOT?
A Class 7 MOT is a special test for the largest vehicles within the MOT testing framework.
All commercial goods vehicles that carry between 3,000 and 3,500kg total weight (the vehicle itself and associated goods) need a Class 7 MOT.
A Class 7 MOT checklist covers all areas tested on a Class 4 vehicle, as well as the following:
| Entrance and Exit Doors | Emergency Exits | Passenger Grab Handles | Steps & Stairs | Seat belt Installation Checks |
Most garages will offer MOTs for Class 4 and Class 7 vehicles, so you may wish to double-check which MOT classes the garage you are planning to book with caters to.
If certain conditions apply, then your vehicle may even be MOT exempt.
If your current MOT certificate is soon to expire, be sure to book an MOT test near you with a professional garage at your earliest convenience.
Book online today!
We hope that you have enjoyed learning about the differences between MOT classes.
