How long does an MOT take?
We run through how long an MOT takes and what it includes in our guide
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By Tia Harrison-North
Last updated: 28 February 2025
Getting your car MOT’d can be quite tedious, so it’d make sense if you’re wondering ‘how long does an MOT take?’.
Between booking your MOT slot, dropping off your car, waiting to hear how it did and then picking it back up – it can be pretty time consuming.
Your yearly MOT is a legal requirement in the UK though, so don’t be tempted to skip it if you’re busy or want to save time.
We explain the process and the timings in our guide below.
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How long does an MOT test take?
An MOT test itself usually takes between 45 and 60 minutes, depending on the garage and how busy they are.
Some garages let you wait while the MOT takes place (this is more common with MOT centres and larger chain garages) or you may need to come back later, which can definitely add to the time frame.
You might also spend extra time on your MOT if your car fails and needs work to make it roadworthy.
You’ll usually have the option to get your car repaired where it was tested, or you can take it to your preferred garage (as long as there are no ‘dangerous’ faults and your current MOT is still valid), which would likely take longer again.
Once your car is fixed, you’ll have to start the process over again and retest to get your MOT certificate for another year.
Keep in mind that if you get your car repaired by the garage it was failed at within 10 days of the original test, you only need a partial retest.
Pre MOT checks that could save you time
To reduce the chance that your car fails its MOT, there are a few things – as well as making sure your car starts, drives and stops properly – you can check before you’re booked in:
Keep your car clean – MOT testers can refuse to test your car if it’s too dirty
Clean the number plates – unreadable number plates are an MOT fail
Check your windscreen wipers – make sure they work, aren’t torn and clear your windscreen
Test your lights – headlights, rear lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, fog lights and rear number plate lights all need to work to pass your MOT
Check your tyres – make sure the tread covers the outer band of a 20p and they’re at the right pressure
Beep the horn to make sure it works
Check your fluid levels – screenwash, coolant and engine oil are easy to check yourself
Make sure your windscreen and mirrors are intact without any cracks or chips
Double check all the doors open from the outside and the inside
Check all of your car’s seatbelts work properly (can be plugged/unplugged and tighten when pulled quickly)
Make sure your handbrake holds the car on a hill
Remove any child seats – MOT testers can’t remove them due to safety, so you need to take them out so your seatbelts can be tested
This isn’t a list of everything that’s tested in an MOT, but they are things you can check yourself at home to, hopefully, save some time and avoid a failure when yours is due.
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What’s checked in an MOT?
An MOT is a pretty in-depth safety check of your whole car, and each area of the inspection takes time. This is why a test can take around one hour to be completed.
An MOT checks:
Brakes – are they in good working order? Do your brake lights work?
Lights – are they positioned right and working?
Electricals – is your battery working? Is the wiring in good condition?
Steering – is your steering wheel secure? Does the steering lock work?
Suspension – is there any damage to components like shock absorbers?
Tyres – do your tyres meet the legal tread depth? Are they damaged?
Wheels – are your wheel nuts tight enough? Is there any damage, corrosion or buckling?
Seat belts – are your belts working?
Emissions – do your emissions reach the legal limit?
Exhaust – is there a lot of smoke?
Fuel – are there any fuel tank leaks?
Structure – is there any corrosion the body of the car?
Driver’s view – do any of the mirrors or wipers obstruct the driver’s view? Is there any windscreen damage in their line of sight?
General – are your registration plates readable? Does the speedometer work as it should? Do the VIN numbers match around the car?
Some testing areas are quicker than others, but more specialist checks like looking at the battery, structure and emissions of the car will take longer.
As soon as your car is done and has passed its test, you’re free to drive it away right then and your car is officially roadworthy for another year.
Repairs
If your car fails its MOT, you’ll need to get it repaired and retested before you can legally drive it (unless there’s still time until your current MOT expires and there are no ‘dangerous’ problems).
How long the car takes to repair will depend on the type of faults (‘dangerous’ and ‘major’ faults cause a failure, ‘advisory’ and ‘minor’ faults just need to be monitored or fixed in the future) it has and how many.
Common MOT failures include:
Lights – changing a bulb on a car is often a quick and easy job that can take less than 45 minutes in most cases
Suspension – fitting a new suspension system can take around four hours, depending on the components, but you may also need to factor in waiting time for a slot and the correct parts to arrive
Brakes – replacing brake pads and discs can take around three hours for a full set, though again factor in some waiting time to be safe
Tyres – if the garage has your tyres in stock, it will typically take around 30 minutes to replace each tyre
All of these times are estimates and can be longer if bolts are seized, there are further issues found, or it’s a tricky car to work on. Make sure you check with your garage for accurate timings.
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How long does it take to pass or fail an MOT?
Passing or failing an MOT takes the same length of time. Even if the technician sees a fault in the first five minutes that would mean a fail, they’ll continue with the checks to find any other issues.
Then, if your car fails and you get it repaired and retested at the same garage as the original test within 10 days, you only need a partial retest – potentially saving time.
If your car has failed its MOT but you got it tested before the current MOT expired, you can still drive it as long as it doesn’t have any dangerous faults.
It’s best to keep it off the road until everything has been fixed to stay safe though.
Find your next car
Keeping up with your car MOT is important for safe and legal driving, and you should also add a car service into your schedule to keep things running smoothly.
All of our used cars come with at least six months’ MOT and comprehensive checks by trained technicians, so you’ll be ready to hit the road.
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