MOT centres in Portsmouth for cars, vans and bikes

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Cars tested in the PO postcode area fail first time 32.8% of the time, against 28.2% nationally, so 4.6 points worse than average. A sidelight not working heads the local list, on 9.72% of failed tests, with a tyre worn or cut to the cords close behind. The figures come from 1,398,878 DVSA test records for the area.

Bars show how often each defect appears on failed tests in this area. The figure in italics is the difference from the national rate for that defect.

A blown bulb fails the test as surely as a worn brake, and a bulb is a few pounds. Check brake lights with the car reversed up to a wall. The UK-wide failure figures show the same pattern, and our guide to MOT advisories puts a number on how often a noted item fails the following year.

The £54.85 figure is a ceiling, not a price list. Portsmouth garages compete on the test fee because they hope to do the repairs, so the test itself is often £30 to £45. You are under no obligation to have failures fixed where the car was tested.

When to book in Portsmouth

Demand peaks in October and bottoms out in April, a swing of roughly 62%. The peaks follow the March and September plate changes three years earlier, when new cars reach their first test.

Retests

If the car fails and you leave it at the station for repair, the retest is free. If you take it away, a partial retest within ten working days at the same station is free for a list of minor items such as lamps, wipers, mirrors, seatbelts and tyres, and charged at a reduced fee for anything else. After ten days it is a full test again.

Driving to the test without an MOT

The law allows one journey without a certificate: to a booked MOT, or to repairs arising from one. Keep the booking confirmation with you, and remember that insurance is still required and a dangerous defect still makes the car illegal to drive.