Guidance

Vehicle test and certificate costs: HGVs and trailers (at authorised testing facilities)

Updated 1 April 2022

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

This guide sets out the fees and average test times for having heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and trailer tests done at private testing facilities (called ‘authorised testing facilities’ or ‘ATFs’).

The tests are still carried out by Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) assessors.

Check which type of fee applies

The fee will depend on:

  • test type
  • how many axles your vehicle has

Service charge for using an ATF

The ATF can charge you a service fee (sometimes called a pit fee) for using their facilities. The table shows the maximum they can charge you.

Vehicle type Maximum service charge
HGV £55
Trailer £40

The ATF can charge 2 service charges if your vehicle is having a dangerous goods (ADR) test followed by an MOT during the same visit.

MOT tests (also known as an ‘annual test’)

Lorries, buses and coaches, and trailers must be tested each year. The first test should be 12 months after the vehicle was first registered with DVLA.

Find out how the MOT for lorries, buses and trailers works.

In this section:


HGV MOT tests

In this section:

2-axle vehicle

Test type Cost Average test length
MOT £91 40 minutes
Retests within 14 days £35 10 minutes
Retests after 14 days £91 40 minutes
Part-paid retests £13 Test length varies

3-axle vehicle

Test type Cost Average test length
MOT £113 45 minutes
Retests within 14 days £49 10 minutes
Retests after 14 days £113 45 minutes
Part-paid retests £13 Test length varies

4 or more axle vehicle

Test type Cost Average test length
MOT £137 55 minutes
Retests within 14 days £65 15 minutes
Retests after 14 days £137 55 minutes
Part-paid retests £13 Test length varies

Trailer MOT tests

In this section:


1-axle trailer

Test type Cost Average test length
MOT £41 20 minutes
Retests within 14 days £18 10 minutes
Retests after 14 days £41 20 minutes
Part-paid retests £7 Test length varies

2-axle trailer

Test type Cost Average test length
MOT £54 25 minutes
Retests within 14 days £25 10 minutes
Retests after 14 days £54 25 minutes
Part-paid retests £7 Test length varies

3-axle trailer

Test type Cost Average test length
MOT £64 30 minutes
Retests within 14 days £33 10 minutes
Retests after 14 days £64 30 minutes
Part-paid retests £7 Test length varies

4-axle trailer

Test type Cost Average test length
MOT £64 35 minutes
Retests within 14 days £33 15 minutes
Retests after 14 days £64 35 minutes
Part-paid retests £7 Test length varies

5-axle trailer

Test type Cost Average test length
MOT £64 40 minutes
Retests within 14 days £33 15 minutes
Retests after 14 days £64 40 minutes
Part-paid retests £7 Test length varies

Prohibition removal

The police and DVSA have the power to carry out spot checks on your vehicle and issue prohibitions if necessary. A prohibition prevents you from driving until you get a problem with your vehicle fixed.

You have to have your vehicle inspected to remove the prohibitions. Depending on how serious the faults are, your vehicle might need a:

  • full inspection - this is the same as a full MOT test
  • partial inspection - only the items that were prohibited are tested, as well as some safety-critical items such as brakes and steering

If your vehicle doesn’t pass the inspection you should add 5 minutes to the average test length to allow for completion of paperwork.

In this section:

HGV prohibition removals

In this section:


2-axle vehicle

Test type Cost Average test length
Full inspection £91 40 minutes
Partial inspection £35 20 minutes

3-axle vehicle

Test type Cost Average test length
Full inspection £113 45 minutes
Partial inspection £49 20 minutes

4 or more axle vehicle

Test type Cost Average test length
Full inspection £137 55 minutes
Partial inspection £65 25 minutes

Trailer prohibition removals

In this section:


1-axle trailer

Test type Cost Average test length
Full inspection £41 20 minutes
Partial inspection £18 15 minutes

2-axle trailer

Test type Cost Average test length
Full inspection £54 25 minutes
Partial inspection £25 15 minutes

3-axle trailer

Test type Cost Average test length
Full inspection £64 30 minutes
Partial inspection £33 15 minutes

4 or more axle trailer

Test type Cost Average test length
Full inspection £64 35 minutes
Partial inspection £33 15 minutes

HGV voluntary tests and checks

In this section:


2-axle vehicle

Tests

Test or check type Service charge VAT Total Average test length
Roadworthiness test £78.60 £15.72 £94.32 40 minutes
Retests within 14 days £52.40 £10.48 £62.88 10 minutes
Retests after 14 days £78.60 £15.72 £94.32 40 minutes
Part-paid retests £18.49 £3.70 £ 22.19 10 minutes

Checks

Test or check type Service charge VAT Total Average test length
Brake test £17.48 £3.50 £20.98 15 minutes
Hire of loaded trailers for brake test of solo tractor units £29.50 £5.90 £35.40 N/A
Smoke test £13.26 £2.65 £15.91 5 minutes
Headlamp aim check £12.07 £2.41 £14.48 10 minutes
Multi-check (headlamp aim, smoke and brake test) £39.79 £7.96 £47.75 25 minutes

3-axle vehicle

Tests

Test type Service charge VAT Total Average test length
Roadworthiness test £112.51 £22.50 £135.01 45 minutes
Retests within 14 days £73.98 £14.80 £88.78 10 minutes
Retests after 14 days £112.51 £22.50 £135.01 45 minutes
Part-paid retests £18.49 £3.70 £ 22.19 10 minutes

Checks

Check type Service charge VAT Total Average test length
Brake test £22.91 £4.58 £27.49 15 minutes
Hire of loaded trailers for brake test of solo tractor units £29.50 £5.90 £35.40 N/A
Smoke test £13.26 £2.65 £15.91 5 minutes
Headlamp aim check £12.07 £2.41 £14.48 10 minutes
Multi-check (headlamp aim, smoke and brake test) £39.79 £7.96 £47.75 25 minutes

4 or more axle vehicle

Tests

Test type Service charge VAT Total Average test length
Roadworthiness test £147.96 £29.59 £177.55 45 minutes
Retests within 14 days £97.10 £19.42 £116.52 10 minutes
Retests after 14 days £147.96 £29.59 £177.55 45 minutes
Part-paid retests £18.49 £3.70 £ 22.19 10 minutes

Checks

Check type Service charge VAT Total Average test length
Brake test £25.32 £5.06 £30.38 20 minutes
Hire of loaded trailers for brake test of solo tractor units £29.50 £5.90 £35.40 N/A
Smoke test £13.26 £2.65 £15.91 5 minutes
Headlamp aim check £12.07 £2.41 £14.48 10 minutes
Multi-check (headlamp aim, smoke and brake test) £39.79 £7.96 £47.75 25 minutes

Trailer voluntary tests

In this section:


1-axle trailer

Test type Service charge VAT Total Average test length
Roadworthiness test £38.53 £7.71 £46.24 20 minutes
Retests within 14 days £26.20 £5.24 £31.44 10 minutes
Retests after 14 days £38.53 £7.71 £46.24 20 minutes
Part-paid retests £9.25 £1.85 £11.10 10 minutes

2-axle trailer

Test type Service charge VAT Total Average test length
Roadworthiness test £58.57 £11.71 £70.28 25 minutes
Retests within 14 days £36.99 £15.72 £44.39 10 minutes
Retests after 14 days £58.57 £11.71 £70.28 25 minutes
Part-paid retests £9.25 £1.85 £11.10 10 minutes

3-axle or more trailer

Test type Service charge VAT Total Average test length
Roadworthiness test £73.98 £14.79 £88.77 30 to 40 minutes
Retests within 14 days £49.32 £9.86 £59.18 10 minutes
Retests after 14 days £73.98 £14.79 £88.77 30 to 40 minutes
Part-paid retests £9.25 £1.85 £11.10 10 minutes

Appeals

You can appeal an HGV or trailer MOT result if you think it’s wrong.

Fee type Cost
Appeal £39

Replacement certificates

You can apply to get replacement HGV or trailer plating and testing documents if the originals have been lost, stolen or defaced.

Document type Cost
Test certificate £13
Plating certificate £13

ADR test for vehicles carrying dangerous or hazardous goods

The ADR is a specialist test for vehicles carrying dangerous or hazardous goods in bulk by road. Find out how the ADR test works.

Test type Cost Average test length
Initial application and full retest £83 35 minutes added to MOT time
Re-test within 14 days £39 30 minutes
New type approved artic tractor certificate £28 N/A
Duplicate certificate £14 N/A

Notifiable alterations

You must tell DVSA if you make changes to either vehicle specification or plating details.

Test type Cost Average length
Notifiable alterations £27 25 minutes

Low emissions certificate

You can get your vehicle tested for a low emissions certificate (LEC). This lets you drive in the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) without paying.

When the test is done Cost Average test length
With an MOT £18 10 minutes added to MOT time
Separately from an MOT £30 10 minutes

Refrigerated or heated trucks and trailers

There are separate fees for the tests you need to get a refrigerated or heated truck or trailer approved to transport perishable in or out of the UK.

TIR test for quicker border crossings

The TIR system allows UK customs officials to pack and seal goods before they’re transported outside the EU. This means that the load will not need to be opened and inspected by customs officials at border crossings.

Your vehicle must pass a test to make sure that:

  • nothing can be put into or taken from the vehicle without it being obvious
  • the goods compartment is built so that it has to be accessed from both inside and outside to be removed and replaced