The DVSA statutory maximum for a Class 4 car MOT is £54.85 and has been since 2010. This guide shows what drivers typically pay across 69+ Scottish towns and where Bob's Mechanical Repairs sits at £54.85.
What an MOT costs in the UK
The maximum a garage may charge for a class 4 car MOT is £54.85, set by the DVSA. That is a ceiling, not a fixed fee — some test stations discount it, and at Bob's the test is £54.85 with no add-ons hidden behind it.
The test fee is separate from any repair. A garage cannot charge you extra for the test because your car failed, and a retest within the allowed period at the same station is normally free or heavily reduced.
Why the total bill is often higher
It is the repairs, not the test, that cost money. Tyres, brake pads, discs, bulbs, wipers, suspension components and corrosion repairs are what turn a £54.85 test into a bill. The fix is a pre-MOT check: bulbs, wipers, washer fluid, tyre tread and obvious play cost very little to sort before the car goes in.
Always ask for the failure sheet and the difference between failures and advisories. A failure must be fixed to pass. An advisory is a warning about something wearing out — worth planning for, not always worth doing today.
Retests and timing
You can have the car tested up to a month minus a day before the current expiry and keep the original date, which gives you room to sort failures without losing the extra weeks you have paid for.
Driving a car with no valid MOT is an offence unless you are travelling to a pre-booked test or to repairs arranged to fix a failure. Insurance can be affected too, which is a far bigger bill than the test.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an MOT?
The DVSA maximum for a class 4 car is £54.85, and that is what Bob's charges.
Is a retest free?
A retest at the same station within the allowed period is usually free or reduced, depending on what was repaired and when the car returns.
Can I be charged more if my car fails?
No. The test fee is for the test. Repairs are quoted separately and you are free to have them done elsewhere.
How early can I get the MOT done?
Up to a month minus a day before expiry while keeping the same renewal date.