There are many benefits to owning an electric car. They are exempt from road tax, don’t have to pay the congestion charge and are generally great forward-thinking vehicles. However, they are not exempt from an MOT test. Like all vehicles, EVs are legally required to have an annual MOT after their first three years.
An MOT ensures a vehicle is roadworthy and safe to drive. Unlike petrol or diesel cars, EVs generally have fewer moving parts. So, if your electric car fails its MOT, it is much less expensive to repair, and expensive maintenance is rarely needed. We’ve made this helpful guide to help you understand everything about an electric car’s MOT test.
An electric car’s MOT differs from a petrol or diesel MOT test. You don’t need to change or test fluids or oil, nor do you have to complete an emissions or noise test.
Electric cars don’t have an internal combustion engine and only have a single-speed gearbox, so testing it doesn’t take long. An EV MOT is much simpler for mechanics to complete than a petrol car MOT.
To help you understand what mechanics will do with your EV during an MOT, we’ve created this handy step-by-step guide.
The first thing your mechanic will do is log your vehicle into the official MOT test system. Once this is complete, petrol cars will undergo emission and noise checks, but EVs don’t need them.
A mechanic will test all the lights on your electric car to ensure they are working correctly. Even if the lights are working, they will check them to see if they are too dim for the roads.
At this point, the mechanic will check the car’s basic safety and convenience features to ensure they are safe and not in any way damaged. They will check many car parts, such as the windscreen wipers, seatbelts and windows.
Your car will be raised into the air on an MOT test lift. They will check your car’s suspension, tyres and steering system from here. They will ensure there is no damage that makes the car unsafe.
The mechanic will inspect your mounting points and brackets for rust at this step.
Here the mechanics will complete a brake test to determine if they are functioning as they should be and if they require any repairs.
The final step of an MOT is checking the car’s electrical systems, including the battery health and the condition of the EV’s electric motor.
Although we’ve covered the basic steps mechanics will go through during an EV MOT, we’ve also included a rough checklist of items that a mechanic will look at to give you a better understanding of what a mechanic is looking for during MOT tests.
You can get an MOT for an EV anywhere you can for a petrol/diesel car. An MOT test is usually done at a dealership or a local garage.
If you are leasing a car, it’s a bit more complicated. Most lease agreements will have stipulated places the financial provider approves where you can do an MOT check.
Before you head out to an MOT test, double-check if your lease agreement allows your MOT to be done at that location. If you have an MOT done at an unapproved centre, you will probably have to pay for the test again.
If you are leasing, get your service log book stamped by the mechanic who looks at your EV to ensure there is a record that you’ve kept the EV in good condition; this could save you money and help you avoid paying large end-of-lease damage charges.
Although an electric car MOT is usually less work for a mechanic than a petrol or diesel MOT, it doesn’t cost any less to do an MOT. The government stipulates that test centres can’t charge more than £54.85 for a single MOT, the maximum sum you can expect to pay.
You can find cheaper MOT tests if you look online or contact local garages, although generally, you should expect to pay £54.85 for an MOT test.
Yes. Hybrids need an MOT for the same reasons as petrol, diesel or electric cars. A mechanic must check them to ensure they are safe for roads and do not present any risk to the public. However, unlike petrol cars, hybrids aren’t subject to emissions tests.
As hybrids and electric cars are both not exempt from MOTs, you might assume that all vehicles must complete an annual MOT. This isn’t true, as some vehicles are exempt. However, you’re unlikely to own a vehicle exempt from needing an MOT.
Examples of vehicles that are exempt from an MOT test are:
If your electric car fails an MOT, you cannot take it out on the roads or use it at all until the faults singled out in the check are fixed by a mechanic. Cars that fail the MOT are not allowed on the road as they present a significant hazard to other drivers.
Once you’ve fixed all your MOT failures, you can have it complete another MOT test to prove it is now roadworthy. If you are retesting the car at the same centre as before, you have ten working days to fix the issues to get a free retest or one working day to fix it if you go to another test centre. If you get an MOT test beyond those working days, you must pay for the new test.
To avoid failing the test, you should regularly check your EV to ensure it is working. Use the checklist above before a test to ensure everything functions as you think it should.
An electric car doesn’t need to be checked every minute of every day to ensure it is still running smoothly. However, it would be best if you still gave it regular checks. If you notice anything, like a chip in the windscreen, get it fixed as soon as possible to prevent it from becoming a bigger issue.
If you’ve owned your EV for a few years, you must perform regular maintenance throughout the year to ensure that the EV will pass the MOT test. These checks don’t have to be particularly strenuous; they can just be checking the lights, tyres and battery condition weekly.
Maintaining your EV isn’t too hard, but we’ve collected a few tips which could help you prolong your EV’s life and help you pass MOT tests.
Tyres are something that every driver should check regularly. It doesn’t take too long to check their tread depth, condition and air pressure. Maintaining optimal-pressured tyres will ensure they are long lasting and provide a more enjoyable drive. EVs are heavy, so you might need rugged tyres to support their weight.
Nowadays, electric cars charge faster than they’ve ever been able to before. Cars can now charge up to 350 kWh in the UK; that’s enough to charge any car from 0 - 100% in minutes. Thus, ultra-rapid charging can save drivers loads of time.
However, with this innovation, there comes a price. Ultra-rapid, rapid and fast chargers are more strenuous on your battery. Occasional fast or rapid charging won’t significantly dent your battery life, but frequent usage will affect it, and its range will decline.
You should use slow chargers to get the most out of your EV. You can find slow chargers at public charging stations, although not all stations include them. You should use Bonnet to locate the best chargers that won’t damage your battery.
You can install slow chargers in your home if you get a home charging station, and grants are available to help drivers afford a home charging point.
The electrical system is a crucial part of the MOT test. The mechanics will test every light on your car, the charging port and the motor. To ensure that your electrics are working perfectly, you should get into the habit of checking all your electrical features.
Test the headlights, brake lights, reverse lights and indicators weekly, and double-check to ensure they’re not dimmed. Making this a weekly habit is the best way to ensure no electrical failures.
When we think about cracks and dents in the windscreen, we generally think about large obvious holes in the window or gaping cracks. Most cracks are relatively small and might not be obvious at first glance.
Give your car an occasional look over, and you’ll detect any dents or cracks in the windscreen before they become a bigger problem. Repairing a small crack is much cheaper than replacing a windscreen that has been damaged beyond repair.
Although electric cars aren’t exempt from an MOT test, they still have many benefits, such as not paying road tax and being cheaper to charge. The best way to ensure that your car passes the MOT test is to keep it in good condition and take care of how you use it. One of the most important aspects of car maintenance is ensuring a good charging routine.
A good charging routine includes not ultra-rapid charging too often and being careful of what chargers you use and the frequency at which you charge. There are more charging stations in the UK than ever, but navigating the different charging networks and locating the perfect chargers for your car can still be tricky.
That’s where Bonnet comes in. Bonnet is our app which helps drivers discover the best charging points for their electric cars. We’ve partnered with some of the best public charging networks in the UK to ensure that there is always a charger near you that you can use at the right charging speed at an affordable price.
If you’ve ever used public charging, you’ll know how inconvenient it can be to access chargers. Each public network requires an app download, and each one charges different prices. Downloading a separate app for each network you use can lead to overspending on charging and littering your phone with unnecessary network apps. Instead of cluttering up your phone to access chargers, you should download Bonnet, which allows you to access 17+ public charging networks with just one app.
To make charging more affordable to our users, we’ve created Bonnet Boosts to help them access chargers across the country at up to 15% off. We have two Bonnet Boosts options.
The first is Light Boost at just £2 monthly for 10% off all your charging. That’s just £24 per year for potentially hundreds of pounds worth of savings.
Our second option is Turbo Boost, which is £8 monthly for 15% off. Turbo Boost is the best option for people who frequently charge at public charging stations, travel a lot and often use public points to top up their EVs. Turbo Boost is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to charge if you don’t own a home charging station.
If you want to find the best chargers to maintain your EV’s battery condition, you should download Bonnet today.
Yes. Like all cars, electric or petrol, Teslas must have an MOT every year after their first three years to ensure they are still roadworthy and safe.
No. Although there is less to check on an electric car than on a petrol vehicle, an MOT will not cost any more or less. The maximum you will be charged for an MOT is £54.85.
Fully electric cars are currently exempt from paying road tax until April 2025. After this date, they must pay road tax, although the exact amount isn’t public knowledge yet.
There are many benefits to owning an electric car. They are exempt from road tax, don’t have to pay the congestion charge and are generally great forward-thinking vehicles. However, they are not exempt from an MOT test. Like all vehicles, EVs are legally required to have an annual MOT after their first three years.
An MOT ensures a vehicle is roadworthy and safe to drive. Unlike petrol or diesel cars, EVs generally have fewer moving parts. So, if your electric car fails its MOT, it is much less expensive to repair, and expensive maintenance is rarely needed. We’ve made this helpful guide to help you understand everything about an electric car’s MOT test.
An electric car’s MOT differs from a petrol or diesel MOT test. You don’t need to change or test fluids or oil, nor do you have to complete an emissions or noise test.
Electric cars don’t have an internal combustion engine and only have a single-speed gearbox, so testing it doesn’t take long. An EV MOT is much simpler for mechanics to complete than a petrol car MOT.
To help you understand what mechanics will do with your EV during an MOT, we’ve created this handy step-by-step guide.
The first thing your mechanic will do is log your vehicle into the official MOT test system. Once this is complete, petrol cars will undergo emission and noise checks, but EVs don’t need them.
A mechanic will test all the lights on your electric car to ensure they are working correctly. Even if the lights are working, they will check them to see if they are too dim for the roads.
At this point, the mechanic will check the car’s basic safety and convenience features to ensure they are safe and not in any way damaged. They will check many car parts, such as the windscreen wipers, seatbelts and windows.
Your car will be raised into the air on an MOT test lift. They will check your car’s suspension, tyres and steering system from here. They will ensure there is no damage that makes the car unsafe.
The mechanic will inspect your mounting points and brackets for rust at this step.
Here the mechanics will complete a brake test to determine if they are functioning as they should be and if they require any repairs.
The final step of an MOT is checking the car’s electrical systems, including the battery health and the condition of the EV’s electric motor.
Although we’ve covered the basic steps mechanics will go through during an EV MOT, we’ve also included a rough checklist of items that a mechanic will look at to give you a better understanding of what a mechanic is looking for during MOT tests.
You can get an MOT for an EV anywhere you can for a petrol/diesel car. An MOT test is usually done at a dealership or a local garage.
If you are leasing a car, it’s a bit more complicated. Most lease agreements will have stipulated places the financial provider approves where you can do an MOT check.
Before you head out to an MOT test, double-check if your lease agreement allows your MOT to be done at that location. If you have an MOT done at an unapproved centre, you will probably have to pay for the test again.
If you are leasing, get your service log book stamped by the mechanic who looks at your EV to ensure there is a record that you’ve kept the EV in good condition; this could save you money and help you avoid paying large end-of-lease damage charges.
Although an electric car MOT is usually less work for a mechanic than a petrol or diesel MOT, it doesn’t cost any less to do an MOT. The government stipulates that test centres can’t charge more than £54.85 for a single MOT, the maximum sum you can expect to pay.
You can find cheaper MOT tests if you look online or contact local garages, although generally, you should expect to pay £54.85 for an MOT test.
Yes. Hybrids need an MOT for the same reasons as petrol, diesel or electric cars. A mechanic must check them to ensure they are safe for roads and do not present any risk to the public. However, unlike petrol cars, hybrids aren’t subject to emissions tests.
As hybrids and electric cars are both not exempt from MOTs, you might assume that all vehicles must complete an annual MOT. This isn’t true, as some vehicles are exempt. However, you’re unlikely to own a vehicle exempt from needing an MOT.
Examples of vehicles that are exempt from an MOT test are:
If your electric car fails an MOT, you cannot take it out on the roads or use it at all until the faults singled out in the check are fixed by a mechanic. Cars that fail the MOT are not allowed on the road as they present a significant hazard to other drivers.
Once you’ve fixed all your MOT failures, you can have it complete another MOT test to prove it is now roadworthy. If you are retesting the car at the same centre as before, you have ten working days to fix the issues to get a free retest or one working day to fix it if you go to another test centre. If you get an MOT test beyond those working days, you must pay for the new test.
To avoid failing the test, you should regularly check your EV to ensure it is working. Use the checklist above before a test to ensure everything functions as you think it should.
An electric car doesn’t need to be checked every minute of every day to ensure it is still running smoothly. However, it would be best if you still gave it regular checks. If you notice anything, like a chip in the windscreen, get it fixed as soon as possible to prevent it from becoming a bigger issue.
If you’ve owned your EV for a few years, you must perform regular maintenance throughout the year to ensure that the EV will pass the MOT test. These checks don’t have to be particularly strenuous; they can just be checking the lights, tyres and battery condition weekly.
Maintaining your EV isn’t too hard, but we’ve collected a few tips which could help you prolong your EV’s life and help you pass MOT tests.
Tyres are something that every driver should check regularly. It doesn’t take too long to check their tread depth, condition and air pressure. Maintaining optimal-pressured tyres will ensure they are long lasting and provide a more enjoyable drive. EVs are heavy, so you might need rugged tyres to support their weight.
Nowadays, electric cars charge faster than they’ve ever been able to before. Cars can now charge up to 350 kWh in the UK; that’s enough to charge any car from 0 - 100% in minutes. Thus, ultra-rapid charging can save drivers loads of time.
However, with this innovation, there comes a price. Ultra-rapid, rapid and fast chargers are more strenuous on your battery. Occasional fast or rapid charging won’t significantly dent your battery life, but frequent usage will affect it, and its range will decline.
You should use slow chargers to get the most out of your EV. You can find slow chargers at public charging stations, although not all stations include them. You should use Bonnet to locate the best chargers that won’t damage your battery.
You can install slow chargers in your home if you get a home charging station, and grants are available to help drivers afford a home charging point.
The electrical system is a crucial part of the MOT test. The mechanics will test every light on your car, the charging port and the motor. To ensure that your electrics are working perfectly, you should get into the habit of checking all your electrical features.
Test the headlights, brake lights, reverse lights and indicators weekly, and double-check to ensure they’re not dimmed. Making this a weekly habit is the best way to ensure no electrical failures.
When we think about cracks and dents in the windscreen, we generally think about large obvious holes in the window or gaping cracks. Most cracks are relatively small and might not be obvious at first glance.
Give your car an occasional look over, and you’ll detect any dents or cracks in the windscreen before they become a bigger problem. Repairing a small crack is much cheaper than replacing a windscreen that has been damaged beyond repair.
Although electric cars aren’t exempt from an MOT test, they still have many benefits, such as not paying road tax and being cheaper to charge. The best way to ensure that your car passes the MOT test is to keep it in good condition and take care of how you use it. One of the most important aspects of car maintenance is ensuring a good charging routine.
A good charging routine includes not ultra-rapid charging too often and being careful of what chargers you use and the frequency at which you charge. There are more charging stations in the UK than ever, but navigating the different charging networks and locating the perfect chargers for your car can still be tricky.
That’s where Bonnet comes in. Bonnet is our app which helps drivers discover the best charging points for their electric cars. We’ve partnered with some of the best public charging networks in the UK to ensure that there is always a charger near you that you can use at the right charging speed at an affordable price.
If you’ve ever used public charging, you’ll know how inconvenient it can be to access chargers. Each public network requires an app download, and each one charges different prices. Downloading a separate app for each network you use can lead to overspending on charging and littering your phone with unnecessary network apps. Instead of cluttering up your phone to access chargers, you should download Bonnet, which allows you to access 17+ public charging networks with just one app.
To make charging more affordable to our users, we’ve created Bonnet Boosts to help them access chargers across the country at up to 15% off. We have two Bonnet Boosts options.
The first is Light Boost at just £2 monthly for 10% off all your charging. That’s just £24 per year for potentially hundreds of pounds worth of savings.
Our second option is Turbo Boost, which is £8 monthly for 15% off. Turbo Boost is the best option for people who frequently charge at public charging stations, travel a lot and often use public points to top up their EVs. Turbo Boost is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to charge if you don’t own a home charging station.
If you want to find the best chargers to maintain your EV’s battery condition, you should download Bonnet today.
There are many benefits to owning an electric car. They are exempt from road tax, don’t have to pay the congestion charge and are generally great forward-thinking vehicles. However, they are not exempt from an MOT test. Like all vehicles, EVs are legally required to have an annual MOT after their first three years.
An MOT ensures a vehicle is roadworthy and safe to drive. Unlike petrol or diesel cars, EVs generally have fewer moving parts. So, if your electric car fails its MOT, it is much less expensive to repair, and expensive maintenance is rarely needed. We’ve made this helpful guide to help you understand everything about an electric car’s MOT test.
An electric car’s MOT differs from a petrol or diesel MOT test. You don’t need to change or test fluids or oil, nor do you have to complete an emissions or noise test.
Electric cars don’t have an internal combustion engine and only have a single-speed gearbox, so testing it doesn’t take long. An EV MOT is much simpler for mechanics to complete than a petrol car MOT.
To help you understand what mechanics will do with your EV during an MOT, we’ve created this handy step-by-step guide.
The first thing your mechanic will do is log your vehicle into the official MOT test system. Once this is complete, petrol cars will undergo emission and noise checks, but EVs don’t need them.
A mechanic will test all the lights on your electric car to ensure they are working correctly. Even if the lights are working, they will check them to see if they are too dim for the roads.
At this point, the mechanic will check the car’s basic safety and convenience features to ensure they are safe and not in any way damaged. They will check many car parts, such as the windscreen wipers, seatbelts and windows.
Your car will be raised into the air on an MOT test lift. They will check your car’s suspension, tyres and steering system from here. They will ensure there is no damage that makes the car unsafe.
The mechanic will inspect your mounting points and brackets for rust at this step.
Here the mechanics will complete a brake test to determine if they are functioning as they should be and if they require any repairs.
The final step of an MOT is checking the car’s electrical systems, including the battery health and the condition of the EV’s electric motor.
Although we’ve covered the basic steps mechanics will go through during an EV MOT, we’ve also included a rough checklist of items that a mechanic will look at to give you a better understanding of what a mechanic is looking for during MOT tests.
You can get an MOT for an EV anywhere you can for a petrol/diesel car. An MOT test is usually done at a dealership or a local garage.
If you are leasing a car, it’s a bit more complicated. Most lease agreements will have stipulated places the financial provider approves where you can do an MOT check.
Before you head out to an MOT test, double-check if your lease agreement allows your MOT to be done at that location. If you have an MOT done at an unapproved centre, you will probably have to pay for the test again.
If you are leasing, get your service log book stamped by the mechanic who looks at your EV to ensure there is a record that you’ve kept the EV in good condition; this could save you money and help you avoid paying large end-of-lease damage charges.
Although an electric car MOT is usually less work for a mechanic than a petrol or diesel MOT, it doesn’t cost any less to do an MOT. The government stipulates that test centres can’t charge more than £54.85 for a single MOT, the maximum sum you can expect to pay.
You can find cheaper MOT tests if you look online or contact local garages, although generally, you should expect to pay £54.85 for an MOT test.
Yes. Hybrids need an MOT for the same reasons as petrol, diesel or electric cars. A mechanic must check them to ensure they are safe for roads and do not present any risk to the public. However, unlike petrol cars, hybrids aren’t subject to emissions tests.
As hybrids and electric cars are both not exempt from MOTs, you might assume that all vehicles must complete an annual MOT. This isn’t true, as some vehicles are exempt. However, you’re unlikely to own a vehicle exempt from needing an MOT.
Examples of vehicles that are exempt from an MOT test are:
If your electric car fails an MOT, you cannot take it out on the roads or use it at all until the faults singled out in the check are fixed by a mechanic. Cars that fail the MOT are not allowed on the road as they present a significant hazard to other drivers.
Once you’ve fixed all your MOT failures, you can have it complete another MOT test to prove it is now roadworthy. If you are retesting the car at the same centre as before, you have ten working days to fix the issues to get a free retest or one working day to fix it if you go to another test centre. If you get an MOT test beyond those working days, you must pay for the new test.
To avoid failing the test, you should regularly check your EV to ensure it is working. Use the checklist above before a test to ensure everything functions as you think it should.
An electric car doesn’t need to be checked every minute of every day to ensure it is still running smoothly. However, it would be best if you still gave it regular checks. If you notice anything, like a chip in the windscreen, get it fixed as soon as possible to prevent it from becoming a bigger issue.
If you’ve owned your EV for a few years, you must perform regular maintenance throughout the year to ensure that the EV will pass the MOT test. These checks don’t have to be particularly strenuous; they can just be checking the lights, tyres and battery condition weekly.
Maintaining your EV isn’t too hard, but we’ve collected a few tips which could help you prolong your EV’s life and help you pass MOT tests.
Tyres are something that every driver should check regularly. It doesn’t take too long to check their tread depth, condition and air pressure. Maintaining optimal-pressured tyres will ensure they are long lasting and provide a more enjoyable drive. EVs are heavy, so you might need rugged tyres to support their weight.
Nowadays, electric cars charge faster than they’ve ever been able to before. Cars can now charge up to 350 kWh in the UK; that’s enough to charge any car from 0 - 100% in minutes. Thus, ultra-rapid charging can save drivers loads of time.
However, with this innovation, there comes a price. Ultra-rapid, rapid and fast chargers are more strenuous on your battery. Occasional fast or rapid charging won’t significantly dent your battery life, but frequent usage will affect it, and its range will decline.
You should use slow chargers to get the most out of your EV. You can find slow chargers at public charging stations, although not all stations include them. You should use Bonnet to locate the best chargers that won’t damage your battery.
You can install slow chargers in your home if you get a home charging station, and grants are available to help drivers afford a home charging point.
The electrical system is a crucial part of the MOT test. The mechanics will test every light on your car, the charging port and the motor. To ensure that your electrics are working perfectly, you should get into the habit of checking all your electrical features.
Test the headlights, brake lights, reverse lights and indicators weekly, and double-check to ensure they’re not dimmed. Making this a weekly habit is the best way to ensure no electrical failures.
When we think about cracks and dents in the windscreen, we generally think about large obvious holes in the window or gaping cracks. Most cracks are relatively small and might not be obvious at first glance.
Give your car an occasional look over, and you’ll detect any dents or cracks in the windscreen before they become a bigger problem. Repairing a small crack is much cheaper than replacing a windscreen that has been damaged beyond repair.
Although electric cars aren’t exempt from an MOT test, they still have many benefits, such as not paying road tax and being cheaper to charge. The best way to ensure that your car passes the MOT test is to keep it in good condition and take care of how you use it. One of the most important aspects of car maintenance is ensuring a good charging routine.
A good charging routine includes not ultra-rapid charging too often and being careful of what chargers you use and the frequency at which you charge. There are more charging stations in the UK than ever, but navigating the different charging networks and locating the perfect chargers for your car can still be tricky.
That’s where Bonnet comes in. Bonnet is our app which helps drivers discover the best charging points for their electric cars. We’ve partnered with some of the best public charging networks in the UK to ensure that there is always a charger near you that you can use at the right charging speed at an affordable price.
If you’ve ever used public charging, you’ll know how inconvenient it can be to access chargers. Each public network requires an app download, and each one charges different prices. Downloading a separate app for each network you use can lead to overspending on charging and littering your phone with unnecessary network apps. Instead of cluttering up your phone to access chargers, you should download Bonnet, which allows you to access 17+ public charging networks with just one app.
To make charging more affordable to our users, we’ve created Bonnet Boosts to help them access chargers across the country at up to 15% off. We have two Bonnet Boosts options.
The first is Light Boost at just £2 monthly for 10% off all your charging. That’s just £24 per year for potentially hundreds of pounds worth of savings.
Our second option is Turbo Boost, which is £8 monthly for 15% off. Turbo Boost is the best option for people who frequently charge at public charging stations, travel a lot and often use public points to top up their EVs. Turbo Boost is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to charge if you don’t own a home charging station.
If you want to find the best chargers to maintain your EV’s battery condition, you should download Bonnet today.
Yes. Like all cars, electric or petrol, Teslas must have an MOT every year after their first three years to ensure they are still roadworthy and safe.
No. Although there is less to check on an electric car than on a petrol vehicle, an MOT will not cost any more or less. The maximum you will be charged for an MOT is £54.85.
Fully electric cars are currently exempt from paying road tax until April 2025. After this date, they must pay road tax, although the exact amount isn’t public knowledge yet.
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