Car & Van MOTs - Herne Bay

An MOT is a yearly inspection that checks that your vehicle meets the legal standards for road safety and exhaust emissions. Most cars need their first MOT three years after they were first registered, and then once every year after that.

At Autocheck, we have two MOT bays on site. Our Class 4 bay tests cars, motorhomes, and vans up to 3,000kg, while our Class 7 bay is set up for larger vans weighing between 3,000kg and 3,500kg.

What an MOT checks

The tester inspects the parts of your vehicle that affect how safely it drives and how cleanly it runs, including:

• Brakes, steering, and suspension
• Lights, indicators, and the horn
• Tyres and wheels, including tread depth and condition
• Seatbelts, seats, and doors
• Windscreen, wipers, and washers
• Exhaust emissions and the fuel system
• The body and chassis, looking for serious corrosion or sharp edges

An MOT doesn’t assess the general condition of the engine, clutch, or gearbox, so it isn’t a replacement for regular servicing.

Class 7 MOTs for larger vans

Many garages can only test vehicles up to 3,000kg, which leaves owners of larger vans hunting further afield. Our Class 7 bay covers goods vehicles up to 3,500kg design gross weight, including the long-wheelbase vans used by builders, delivery drivers, and other tradespeople around Herne Bay, Whitstable, and the surrounding villages.

If your vehicle fails its MOT

Any problems found are graded as dangerous, major, or minor. A dangerous or major defect means a fail, while minor defects and advisories are recorded on the certificate as things to keep an eye on.

Because the MOT bays sit inside a fully equipped repair workshop, we can quote for any failure items straight away and often put them right the same day. If your vehicle stays with us and the repairs are completed within 10 working days, the partial retest is free. If a dangerous defect is found, the vehicle can’t legally be driven until it’s fixed.

Why book your MOT with us

We test to the standard the law requires and report exactly what we find, without inventing extra work. You’ll get a clear explanation of any advisories so you can plan ahead, and you can combine your MOT with a service to save a second trip.

For anyone short on time, we offer collection and delivery within five miles of the garage, subject to availability. You can also wait while the test is carried out, as we’re only a short hop from the A299 Thanet Way.

Book your MOT online and choose a date and time that fits around you.