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Motorbike MOT: what's checked and how to pass

Most motorbike MOT fails are a blown bulb, a worn tyre or a slack chain. Here's exactly what the tester looks at, what it costs, what happens if it fails, and a checklist to run through the week before.

Last checked against GOV.UK: 2 November 2026

When your bike's MOT is due

In England, Scotland and Wales a motorbike needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration. After that it needs one every year, by the anniversary of its last MOT. In Northern Ireland the first test is at four years old, and the test is run by the DVA.

You can test early and keep your date. An MOT can be done up to a month (minus a day) before the current one runs out, and the renewal date stays the same. If it expires on 15 May, the earliest you can test and keep that date is 16 April.
Earlier than that moves your date. Test any earlier and the new certificate runs a year from the test date instead.
Check the date on your last certificate or with a free MOT history check. Our free motorbike MOT check shows the expiry date and every past test.

Riding with an expired MOT

Once the MOT has run out, you can't ride or park the bike on a public road. GOV.UK allows two exceptions: riding to a pre-arranged MOT test, and riding to or from somewhere it's being repaired. The bike still has to be insured for that journey, and roadworthy.

The penalties are real. Riding without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000. You also can't renew vehicle tax while the MOT has expired, so a lapsed MOT soon becomes an untaxed bike too.

What a motorbike MOT costs

MOT centres can charge less than the official maximum, but not more. There's no VAT on the fee.

Vehicle	MOT class	Maximum fee
Motorcycle up to 200cc	Class 1	£29.65
Motorcycle over 200cc	Class 2	£29.65
Motorcycle with sidecar (any engine size)	Class 1 or 2	£37.80

Not every MOT centre tests bikes, so check when you book that they do class 1 and 2.

What's checked on a motorbike MOT

The tester works through DVSA's MOT inspection manual for motorcycles. These are its sections, and the things that most often catch riders out.

Section	What the tester looks at
0. Identification	The rear number plate (see below) and the VIN or frame number, which must be present and legible. Bikes first used from 1 August 1999 must have one.
1. Brakes	Levers and pedal, pipes and hoses, pads and discs, callipers, master cylinders, fluid level and a performance test. Pads worn below 1.0 mm are a dangerous defect. One brake must reach at least 30% efficiency and the other 25%.
2. Steering	Handlebars and grips, the steering head bearings (play, stiffness or notchiness), forks and yokes, and whether anything fouls the bars from lock to lock. Steering dampers too, if fitted.
4. Lamps and reflectors	Headlamp (including aim), front and rear position lamps, stop lamp, indicators, the indicator tell-tale, the rear plate lamp and a red rear reflector. On bikes first used from 1 April 1986 the stop lamp must work from both brake controls. Indicators must flash 60 to 120 times a minute.
5. Wheels, tyres and suspension	Tread depth and tyre condition, matching tyre construction front and rear, valves, wheel bearings, spokes, springs, shock absorbers and linkages.
6. Structure and attachments	Frame, exhaust system, fuel system, drive chain and sprockets, engine mountings, seats, footrests and the clutch and throttle controls.
7. Horn	It must work and be loud enough. On bikes first used from 1 August 1973 it must give a continuous, uniform tone: no multi-tone, siren, gong or bell.
8. Exhaust noise	With the engine warm, the tester revs it to about half its maximum engine speed. The noise must not be clearly unreasonably above what you'd expect from that bike.

The MOT doesn't cover the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox. Mirrors aren't in the motorcycle inspection manual either, though you'll want good ones to ride safely. An aftermarket silencer marked "not for road use" or "track use only" is a major defect, whatever it sounds like.

Tyres: the legal minimum

On a bike over 50cc, the tread must be at least 1.0 mm deep across a continuous band covering at least three-quarters of the tread width, all the way round, with the tread pattern still visible across the rest. Bikes of 50cc and under need a visible tread pattern across the whole tread, but not a 1 mm depth. Tread below the limit is a dangerous defect, as are bulges, lumps and exposed cords.

Number plates

Two lines, at the rear. Motorbike plates must be in a two-line format. Bikes registered from 1 September 2001 must only have a rear plate; older bikes may have a front one too, but it isn't inspected.
Black on yellow for bikes made from 1 January 1980. Older bikes can use white, grey or silver characters on black.
The right characters. The prescribed font (or one substantially similar), correct size and spacing, not italic, sloping or made of broken strokes, and nothing that changes how they read. Raised 3D characters are allowed.
September 2021 changes. Plates fitted after 1 September 2021 must be marked BS AU 145e and use a single shade of black, so two-tone "shadow" characters aren't allowed on newer bikes.
No patterned backgrounds such as honeycomb on bikes first registered from 1 September 2001, and no tints or films.

A plate that's missing, illegible, wrong or non-conforming is a major defect, so it's an easy fail to avoid.

If it fails: what the results mean

Category	Result	What it means for you
Dangerous	Fail	Don't ride it away. Riding a bike that failed with a dangerous defect can mean a fine of up to £2,500, a ban and 3 penalty points.
Major	Fail	Repair it and retest. You can ride it away only if the old MOT is still valid, and it must still be roadworthy.
Minor	Pass (recorded)	Not serious enough to fail, but it's a defect: fix it soon.
Advisory	Pass (noted)	Not a defect yet, but likely to become one. Keep an eye on it.

Our MOT advisories guide explains common advisory wording and what to do about each one.

Retests

Leave it at the centre for repair and it's retested within 10 working days: a partial retest with no fee.
Take it away and bring it back to the same centre by the end of the next working day: no fee if the fail was only on certain items. For bikes, those include lamps (not headlamp aim), the horn, the registration plate, rear reflectors, the VIN, electrical wiring, the battery and the fuel filler cap. Wheels and tyres on motorbikes are not on that list.
Take it away and bring it back within 10 working days: a partial retest, which can carry a partial retest fee.
Anything else means a full test and the full fee again.

Pre-MOT checklist

Ten minutes in the garage the week before saves most avoidable fails.

Lights: headlamp on dip and main beam, sidelight, tail light, plate light. Check the stop lamp with the front lever and the rear pedal separately.
Indicators: all four work, flash at a normal rate and the tell-tale on the dash works.
Horn: one press, one clear tone.
Tyres: tread depth across the width, cuts, bulges, cracking and pressures.
Brakes: pad material left, levers firm, fluid above the minimum mark, no weeping at callipers or hoses.
Chain: slack within your manual's figure, lubricated, sprockets not hooked, guard secure.
Steering: turn the bars lock to lock: smooth, no notch in the centre, no cables pulling or bars hitting the tank.
Suspension: no oil on the fork legs or shock; bounce it and check it settles.
Plate and VIN: plate clean, secure and legal; VIN or frame number readable.
Exhaust and fuel: silencer secure and road legal, no fuel leaks or perished pipes.
Seats, footrests and controls: all secure, throttle snaps shut.
On the day: arrive with the engine warm and the bike reasonably clean.

Our guide to common motorbike MOT fails you can fix at home covers the easy fixes in more detail.

Never miss an MOT date again

Tickover reads your bike's MOT history, reminds you a month, a week and a day before the MOT runs out, and turns advisories from the last test into a to-do list.

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Quick answers

How much does a motorbike MOT cost?

The maximum fee is £29.65 for a motorcycle and £37.80 for a motorcycle with a sidecar. MOT centres can charge less, and there's no VAT on the fee.

When does a new motorbike need its first MOT?

In England, Scotland and Wales, by the third anniversary of its registration, then every year. In Northern Ireland the first MOT is at four years old.

How early can I MOT my motorbike?

Up to a month (minus a day) before the current MOT runs out, and you keep the same renewal date.

Can I ride to an MOT without a valid MOT?

Yes, but only to a pre-arranged MOT test, or to or from a repair. The bike must be insured and roadworthy.

Are mirrors checked on a motorbike MOT?

No. Mirrors are not part of DVSA's MOT inspection manual for motorcycles, but you should still have good mirrors fitted to ride safely.

What's the minimum tyre tread for a motorbike MOT?

For bikes over 50cc, 1.0 mm across a continuous band covering at least three-quarters of the tread width, all the way round, with visible tread on the rest. Bikes of 50cc and under need a visible tread pattern.

Related guides

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change: check GOV.UK before you act. Tickover is independent and not affiliated with the DVLA or DVSA.