Everything you need to know about van MOTs

A yearly MOT check-up is an important part of owning a van and keeping it roadworthy. It will make sure your van is safe and can legally be driven on the road, as well as identify any faults that need fixing. Understanding when your van needs an MOT will keep you on the right side of the law and is also vital when it comes to buying or selling a van.

 

To make sure you’re MOT-savvy, here we explain everything you need to know about van MOTs, including what an MOT test is, what an MOT involves, how often your van needs an MOT and how to check whether or not your van is MOT compliant. 

 

 

What is an MOT?

 

An MOT test – short for the Ministry of Transport test – is a yearly test for motor vehicles in the UK. Pretty much every vehicle with an engine that drives on the road has to have one – from motorbikes to cars, vans to large lorries. 

 

MOT tests check to see if vehicles are safe to drive and fit to be on the road and that their exhaust emissions meet legal standards. 

 

 

Does my van need an MOT?

 

Your van does not need an MOT in its first three years. Once your van reaches three years old, however, it will need an MOT every 12 months.

 

 

How will I know when my van needs a van MOT check?

 

If your van has never had an MOT before, it’ll need an MOT test on the day it turns three years old. 

 

To find out when this is, look in your vehicle registration document (V5) to find out the registration date of your van. Think of this date as your van’s birthday. It’ll need an MOT on this day when it’s three. You can have an MOT test up to a month early, however, so you don’t have to wait until the last minute.

 

If your van has had an MOT before, it’ll need an MOT one year after the date it last had one. 

 

You can find out when your van’s MOT anniversary is by checking your last MOT certificate. When your van passed its MOT last year, it will have received a VT20 MOT Test Pass Certificate. This certificate will have the date of last year’s MOT test halfway down the first page, and the expiry date next to it when your van will need its next test.

 

 

How do I check my van’s MOT online?

 

If you don’t have your van’s MOT certificate to hand, you can also check the MOT status of your van online via the GOV.UK MOT checker. Simply enter your van’s registration number and you’ll see when its MOT test and road tax are due. 

 

You can also see the full MOT history of your van or a van you’re planning on buying by using a van MOT checker. 

 

 

How do I book a van MOT check?

 

You have to visit an approved MOT test centre to get an MOT test for your van. It’s a simple process to check with garages near you to see if they are an approved MOT test centre, or you can simply check online to find your nearest MOT test centre.

 

You’ll then need to call or book an MOT test appointment online. You’ll need to have your van’s registration number and the last four digits of its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to hand. 

 

 

How much will an MOT test cost?

 

Approved MOT test centres have a maximum price they can charge for an MOT test. This price can change each year and will depend on the type of vehicle being tested.

 

For instance, in 2021 most vans (goods vehicles weighing up to 3,000 kg gross weight) have a maximum MOT test cost of £54.85. Larger vans (goods vehicles over 3,000 kg up to 3,500 kg gross weight) will have a maximum MOT test cost of £58.60. You can see more details here on maximum MOT test prices. 

 

Remember, this is just the price of the MOT test. If the test reveals repairs that need to be made to your van, these repairs will be charged in addition to the test. 

 

 

What if my MOT test is overdue?

 

If your van’s MOT has expired, you need to book an MOT test as soon as possible.

 

You can’t drive your van on the road if its MOT test has expired because without an MOT it’s not road legal. The only exception is if you’re driving your van to have its MOT test.

 

 

What checks are in a van MOT test?

 

Most of us never see an MOT test in action. We drop our car or van off at a garage or test centre, go for a coffee and then come back an hour later and hope we aren’t facing a hefty bill. 

 

To give you an idea of what an MOT involves, a trained mechanic will assess your van on the following:

 

That your:

 

· Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is present and legible

· Registration plate is legible, secure, and in the correct format

 

The mechanic will then check each of the following to make sure they are in working order and meet the necessary standards to be roadworthy:

 

· Wheels and tyres

· Brakes

· Steering and suspension

· Fuel System

· Emissions

· Bodywork

· Doors

· Mirrors

· Lights

· Windscreen

· Windscreen wipers and screen wash bottle

· Horn 

· Seatbelts

· Seats

 

 

Understanding your MOT results

 

Ideally, your van will pass every step of its MOT. If this happens, you’ll be issued a new MOT certificate and your van will be roadworthy.

 

Sometimes a van can pass its MOT but be given advisories, also called minor faults. These are faults that the mechanic has identified that aren’t a problem yet, but that could develop into one down the line. Your van will be roadworthy if it has minor faults, but they need to be addressed before they get worse. 

 

If your van is found to have any major or dangerous faults, it will fail its MOT and these faults will need to be addressed immediately. If a vehicle fails its MOT, the test centre can’t allow it to be taken away until any faults are repaired. The only exception to this is if you’re driving the van to another location to have it fixed or if your current MOT certificate is still valid and the van has major faults but not dangerous faults – this could be the case if you’re getting an MOT done within the month before its MOT anniversary.

 

In most cases, you’ll have to pay for the required work to be done to fix your van’s faults. This could be something as minor as having your screen wash topped up or a light replaced, but it could also involve having more extensive and expensive repairs made to your van. 

 

 

Where can I find a van for my business?

 

It’s not just understanding van MOTs we can help you with. At Northgate Vehicle Hire we help businesses across the UK to get access to the vans they need, quickly, reliably, and without prohibitive upfront costs. 

 

We offer a range of stocked vans suitable for most trade jobs and can source vans for more specialist work. Our selection of hire options means you can get the vans you need quickly and affordably, and our flexible contracts ensure we can help your business stay on top of changing circumstances. 

 

Take a look at our range of stock vans using our van finder, then contact us to find out more or pay us a visit at your nearest branch.

 

 

Sources:

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/vans/353308/van-mots-explained-rules-costs-and-tips-help-your-van-pass 

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/car-maintenance/everything-you-need-to-know-about-mots/ 

https://www.smmt.co.uk/pass-my-mot/ 

https://motorway.co.uk/sell-my-car/guides/mot-ultimate-guide