Most car owners unaware that local councils offer MoTs

Richard Aucock, Contributor
Wed, 25 Jun 2025

Three quarters of drivers are unaware that local councils offer MoT tests, despite those who use them rating their trustworthiness, impartiality and convenience.

133 councils across the UK offer MoT tests for privately-owned cars. There are 85 in England, 17 in Scotland and 11 in Wales.

Despite this, just 1 in 4 know about them – and a mere 11% of motorists have had an MoT test carried out at a council-run centre.

Uswitch is now hoping to raise awareness of council-run test centres, calling them an impartial alternative to commercial test centres. Since these centres don’t typically offer repairs, they have no financial incentive to recommend unnecessary work.

This, says the price comparison website, can address concerns from drivers that they may have overspent due to unnecessary or premature advice issued by centres that profit from the work.

Walsall Council carried out the most MoTs on privately-owned cars in 2024 – 3386 of them, according to Uswitch analysis. Bristol Council was next, on 1843 MoTs, closely followed by Eastleigh, Sandwell and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Uswitch says the number of MoTs councils offer to the public depends on a number of factors, including the number of council-run vehicles that require servicing.

Once they were aware of them, a third of drivers said they would consider using council-run MoT test centres in the future – although a further third said they wouldn’t, primarily due to loyalty to their existing garage.

Those who reject council-run MoT test centres could be missing out on savings.

The average they charge for an MoT test is £49.36, with prices ranging from just £37 to the maximum (as outlined by the government) £54.85 fee.

Only 38 of the 113 council-run MoT test centres charge the maximum fee.

However, if your car does fail its MoT at a council-run test centre, they won't be able to carry out any work to ensure it passes. Which would mean taking it elsewhere for potential repairs and then returning for another test.

You have until the end of the next working day to take a vehicle back to the same test centre for a partial retest which will mean not having to pay for another MoT, although this does depend on what the repair is.

Many motorists see council-approved MoT test centres as more trustworthy, something that Uswitch expert Leoni Moninska said motorists consider very important.

"Trustworthiness is a major factor for many drivers, with over one in five prioritising this when choosing a test centre.

"If you’re unsure about a location’s legitimacy, check that the official MOT sign – a blue sign with three white triangles – is on display. The DVSA also publishes a list of test centres which is updated frequently."

Ask HJ

Can a dealer sell a car without a valid MoT?

An elderly friend bought a second hand car last October from a well known VW dealership in Cambridge. She has now discovered that she has no MoT or service history. She contacted them on Friday to find out the MoT should have been done in November. She has visited the garage several times since purchasing and this has never been flagged up. This has caused considerable distress to an elderly lady. What are her rights. They have agreed to MoT the car on Monday the 16th at Waterbeach which another stress because it is not near where she lives. Urgently need you advice.

It is legal for a car dealer, or anyone, to sell a vehicle without a valid MoT, but they are legally obligated to inform the buyer that this is the case, so if they did not inform your friend of this then technically they have broken the law. She could reject the vehicle and ask for a refund given it was not as described, you can read more about this process here - https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/. As for the service history, depending on the age of the vehicle this may be stored digitally, so the dealership should be able to provide you with the history assuming it is present.

Answered by David Ross

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