FSO MOT made easy

Your next MOT due date will be stated on your last MOT test certificate. If you do not have your last test certificate to hand, you can check when your MOT expires by going to ClickMechanic's when is my MOT due date checker and enter your vehicle's registration number. It will tell you when the MOT is (or was) due and you can book your next MOT from there as well.

Usually an MOT test for FSO takes on average around 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete. In that time a certified MOT tester will be able to check all the required points on the government-sanctioned checklist.

With ClickMechanic an MOT with collection & delivery costs £19 when booked together with a service (interim, full or major). When booked independently, an MOT with collection & delivery through ClickMechanic costs £74. Pricing is the same regardless of location or type of vehicle.

You can find out when your MOT runs out via your last MOT test certificate. It will state the date until when the last MOT was valid. Alternatively, if you do not have the test certificate or can't find it, you can use ClickMechanic's MOT expiry date checker to find out when your MOT is (or was) due. Just enter your vehicle's registration number there and we'll get the MOT status instantly. From there, you can also book your next MOT online.

MOT stands for 'Ministry of Transport', so when we're talking about an 'MOT test' we're talking about a Ministry of Transport test. The test is a check to verify the condition of a vehicle, with any vehicle over 3 years old, 4 years in Northern Ireland, being legally required to have an MOT test carried out on a yearly basis. The MOT test is carried out at fixed premise garages that have a dedicated MOT bay and a qualified MOT tester.

Driving without an MOT certificate is not only dangerous to you and others on the road but you could also be fined up to £1000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate.

There are many reasons why your FSO can fail its MOT, the most common ones include:

Tyres: The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around its entire circumference.
Lights: All bulbs must be working.
Brakes: The vehicle must be able to stop in a safe and controlled manner.
Suspension: The suspension must be in good working order, with no excessive wear or damage.
Bodywork: There must be no major rusting, damage or sharp edges.
Mirrors: Both mirrors must be present and securely attached.
Windscreen: The windscreen must be free of cracks, chips or other damage.

When your FSO fails its MOT test, you'll be handed a ‘refusal of an MOT test certificate’ which will be permanently recorded in the database.

If your previous MOT test certificate is still valid and no 'dangerous' faults were recorded in the test then you can still take the vehicle away from the garage. Otherwise, you will need to repair the faults noted in the certificate before you can drive it again.

You can usually retest it for free at the original test centre as long as you return it before the next working day. You can also leave the vehicle for repairs at the garage. If the repairs are done within 10 days and the vehicle is retested within this period then you can do a partial retest which is free of cost.

If your FSO is more than three years old (four years old in Northern Ireland), you must have an MOT test every year.

Remember, an MOT test is a legal requirement and must be done before your previous MOT certificate expires.

Yes, it is advisable to service your FSO at the same time as getting your MOT, as this can help in sorting any potential problems before they become a serious issue and help your FSO pass its MOT, and it can also save you time and money in the long run.

Yes, many garages are able to offer collection and delivery for an MOT test for your FSO. With ClickMechanic collection & delivery is free if your vehicle is drivable. Once booked a mechanic will pick up the vehicle on the day and time of your choice, do the work, and return the vehicle at a time convenient to you. Simply enter your vehicle registration number and postcode to get an upfront price for an MOT test.