One of the most common questions we get from new customers: ‘I just need an M.O.T., right?’ The honest answer: an M.O.T. is a roadworthiness check, not a service. They’re complementary, and skipping the service to save money usually costs more in the long run.
What an M.O.T. covers
An M.O.T. checks that your vehicle meets the legal minimum safety and environmental standards. It looks at lights, brakes, suspension, tyres, structure, exhaust emissions, mirrors, seatbelts, and so on. What it does not cover: the engine’s general condition, oil quality, filters, fluid levels, drive belts, or any preventative maintenance.
What a service covers
A service is preventative maintenance. We change wear parts (oil, filters), check fluid levels, inspect for early signs of wear, and catch issues before they cause breakdowns or M.O.T. failures.
The three main service tiers we offer:
- Interim service (£144): recommended every 6 months or 6,000 miles. Oil, oil filter, basic safety checks.
- Full service (£199): annually or every 12,000 miles. Everything in interim, plus pollen filter, air filter, brake-system inspection.
- Major service (£299): every 2 years or 24,000 miles. Full service plus spark plugs, fuel filter, gearbox/transmission check.
The smart play: combine them
Booking your M.O.T. and an interim service together for £199 (saving £45) means you turn up once, leave once, and any small issues found in service are fixed before they become M.O.T. failures. We’ve had customers come in for ‘just an M.O.T.’, fail on a worn brake pad, and end up paying twice: once for the failed test and once for the repair plus retest. The combined deal avoids all that.
How do I know which my car needs?
Open your service book or service history. If it’s been more than a year (or 12,000 miles) since the last service, you’re due. If you don’t have records, give us your reg and we’ll work it out from your M.O.T. history and odometer.