What to do
Do I need a service or an MOT?
Service or MOT? They are different things and you need both. What each covers, which is a legal requirement, and the sensible order to book them.
You need both. An MOT is a legally required annual roadworthiness test with a pass or fail result, carried out at an approved test station. A service is preventative maintenance on the manufacturer's schedule, with no pass or fail. One does not replace the other, and a well-serviced car is far less likely to fail its MOT.
| MOT | Legal requirement, approved test station, pass or fail |
|---|---|
| Service | Maintenance, manufacturer's schedule, no pass or fail |
| Can be mobile | Service yes, MOT no |
| Full service | From £199 + VAT |
What to do
- Check your MOT due date. Free on the gov.uk MOT history service, using just the registration.
- Book the service a week or two before. So anything found can be fixed before the test rather than after a failure.
- Book the MOT at an approved station. It cannot be done at your home by anyone.
Service or MOT, side by side
| MOT | Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Legally required | Yes, annually from the car's third year | No |
| Result | Pass or fail, with advisories | A record and a condition report |
| Changes parts | No, it is a test only | Yes: oil, filters, fluids |
| Where | Approved test station | Anywhere, including your driveway |
Where they overlap
An MOT tells you the car met a minimum legal standard on the day. A service is what keeps it above that standard for the rest of the year. The overlap is the wear items: brakes, tyres, lights and visibility are checked in both, and those account for most MOT failures. That is why servicing shortly before the test tends to pay for itself.
Check your car's MOT status and full test history free on the gov.uk MOT history service.
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Questions
No. An MOT is a legal test with a pass or fail. A service is maintenance: oil, filters, fluids and inspection. You need both.
No. MOT testing is legally restricted to approved test stations, so no mobile operator can carry one out.
The service, one to two weeks before the MOT, so anything found can be fixed without rushing.
The service you probably need
Book it at your address
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