What are the classes of MOT bays?

The class of MOT Bay depends on the type of vehicles you intend to work on in your garage or workshop.

It’s important to ensure you have at least the minimum class of MOT Bay for the vehicle(s) you intend to MOT test.

Below are the main MOT Bay classes that are available and used in the UK for MOT testing.

Class 1 MOT Bays

This is generally referred to as a motorcycle MOT Bay, but can also be used for a motorcycle and sidecar, with engine size up to 200cc, so, for example, learner-legal motorcycles of 125cc would need at least a Class 1 MOT Bay for MOT testing these.

The types of vehicles you can MOT with a Class I MOT Bay are:

• Motorcycle, scooter and moped (up to 200cc)
• Motorcycle with sidecar (up to 200cc)

Class 2 MOT Bays

Again these can be used for Motorcycles, but over 200cc engine size with or without a sidecar.

The types of vehicles you can MOT with a Class II MOT Bay are:

• Motorcycle (over 200cc)
• Motorcycle with sidecar (over 200cc)

Class 3 MOT Bays

This class of MOT Bay have quite a limited usage but is the minimum necessary for MOT testing of 3-wheeled vehicles up to 450kg of unladen weight.

The types of vehicles you can MOT with a Class III MOT Bay are:

• 3-wheeled vehicles (up to 450kg unladen weight)

Class 4 MOT Bays

This is the most popular and most useful Class of MOT bays for standard passenger vehicles but can be used for larger 3-wheeled vehicles over 450kg as well as cars, caravans, quads, and private hire vehicles.  This is the class of MOT Bay you would also need for MOT testing Ambulances and taxis, and goods vehicles up to 3,000kg in gross weight.

The types of vehicles you can MOT with a Class IV MOT Bay are:

• 3-wheeled vehicles (over 450kg unladen weight)
• Cars (up to 8 passenger seats)
• Motor caravans
• Quads (max unladen weight 400kg – for goods vehicles 550kg and max net power of 15kw)
• Dual purpose vehicles
• Private hire and public service vehicles (up to 8 seats)
• Ambulances and taxis
• Private passenger vehicles and ambulances (9 to 12 passenger seats)
• Goods vehicles (up to 3,000kg design gross weight)
• Class 4 vehicles (9 to 12 passenger seats) with a seat belt installation check (this is Class 4a)

Class 5 MOT Bays

For larger Private passenger vehicles and ambulances (13 to 16 passenger seats) you would need a Class 5 MOT Bay, and this class of MOT bay would also be used for Playbuses and any other vehicles with more than 16 passenger seats.

The types of vehicles you can MOT with a Class V MOT Bay are:

• Private passenger vehicles and ambulances (13 to 16 passenger seats)
• Private passenger vehicles and ambulances (more than 16 passenger seats)
• Playbuses
• Class 5 vehicles (13 to 16 passenger seats) with a seatbelt installation check (this is Class 5a)
• Class 5 vehicles (more than 16 passenger seats) with a seatbelt installation check

Class 7 MOT Bays

This largest Class of MOT Bays are used for goods vehicles over 3,000kg and up to 3,500kg in weight.

The types of vehicles you can MOT with a Class V MOT Bay are:

• Goods vehicles (over 3,000kg up to 3,500kg design gross weight)

 

There is more information regarding the classes of MOT Bays on the gov.uk website, including the most current Maximum MOT Test fee that you can charge for an MOT for each class.