If you run a bigger van, its MOT may not be the same test as a car's. Vans over a certain weight need a class 7 MOT, and not every MOT centre in Glasgow can do one. Turning up at the wrong place wastes a morning, and a van off the road usually means lost work.

This guide explains which vans are class 7, how to check yours, and how to find a centre that can test it. You can go straight to the MOT centres approved for class 7 in our directory, which is built from the DVSA's official list. The garages are not our partners and we don't rate them.

Which vans are class 7?

The MOT class depends on the van's design gross weight, not its make or model. GOV.UK puts it like this:

  • Class 4 covers goods vehicles up to 3,000kg, as well as cars. A small or medium van is usually tested like a car.
  • Class 7 covers petrol, diesel and hybrid goods vehicles over 3,000kg and up to 3,500kg.
  • Zero emission vans between 3,501kg and 4,250kg are also class 7, because batteries add weight.

Heavier goods vehicles go through a different annual test, not the MOT.

How to check your van's weight

The figure you need is the maximum authorised mass, also called the gross vehicle weight. It is the weight of the van including the most it can safely carry. It is not the weight of the empty van.

GOV.UK says this is normally shown on a plate or sticker fitted to the vehicle, and listed in the owner's manual. On most vans the plate is inside a door frame or under the bonnet. If the gross weight is over 3,000kg, book a class 7 test.

Two vans of the same model can be in different classes, because the same van is often sold in more than one weight version. Always go by the plate, not the badge or what the last owner said.

What a class 7 MOT costs

The government sets a maximum fee. For a class 7 goods vehicle it is £58.60, and there is no VAT on the fee. Centres can charge less, and prices vary, so ask when you book. Ask what a retest costs too.

Finding a centre that can test it

A class 7 test needs equipment that can handle a heavier van, so only some centres are approved for it. The DVSA list records which classes each centre can test, and our directory shows that on every entry under "MOT test classes".

Use the class 7 filter, then narrow it down by area or postcode. Phone before you go. Ask whether they can fit your van in, how long the test takes, and whether you can wait. Some centres have fewer class 7 slots than car slots.

When it's due

Like a car, a van normally needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration, then every year. You can get the MOT done up to a month, minus a day, before it runs out and keep the same renewal date. For a working van, booking early is the easiest way to avoid a gap.

Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000. If the MOT has run out, you can only drive to a pre-booked test or to have failed defects repaired.

Before the test

Vans work hard, so a quick look the week before is worth it:

  • All lights, including brake lights, indicators and the number plate light.
  • Tyres: the legal minimum is 1.6mm of tread across the centre three-quarters of the tyre, all the way round. That applies to vans up to 3,500kg as well as cars.
  • Mirrors, wipers and screen wash.
  • Side and rear loading doors that open, close and latch properly.
  • An empty load area, so the tester can see what they need to.

If the van fails

The retest rules are the same as for a car. If you leave the van at the test centre for repair and it is retested within 10 working days, the partial retest is free.

Some items have no retest fee if you bring the van back to the same centre before the end of the next working day. That list includes things vans often fail on, such as the loading door, dropsides, tailboard, lamps, mirrors, and wheels and tyres. Our guide to what to do after a failed MOT explains the rest.

If you would like the repairs priced, send us the failure sheet. We look for the parts and suggest suitable garages, so you can compare before you pay. It is free to ask.

Common questions

Is my Transit or Sprinter a class 7 van?

It depends on the gross weight on its plate, not the model. Some versions are 3,000kg or less and are tested as class 4. Others are heavier and need class 7.

Can any garage do a class 7 MOT?

No. Only test centres approved for class 7 can do it. Check the "MOT test classes" line in our directory, then phone the centre to book.