Vehicle examination

Opening hours

The office is open Monday to Friday 9am to 4:30pm.

Applications can be made online, handed in or posted to:

Fees vary and are available as a downloadable document. Appointments cannot be given until we have received the completed form and fee. 

Rescheduled appointments, cancellations or refunds can only be made if we receive 3 full working days notice. If a vehicle has exceeded the 21 days since a first examination a full examination fee will be charged and a full vehicle examination will be carried out. (Subject to no pre-agreed dispensation).

Conditions for accepting a vehicle for test

The Vehicle Test Centre shall not be under any obligation to carry out an examination where:

• the vehicle arrives more than 5 minutes after its appointed time slot.
• the vehicle or any part thereof or any of its equipment is in such a dirty condition as to make it unreasonably difficult for the examination to be carried out
• the examiner is unable to complete an examination if the vehicle is not provided with sufficient fuel and oil or if the vehicle cannot be started
• the vehicle is submitted with a load that would put at risk the health and safety of the vehicle examiner
• Vehicles that are required to be presented loaded are presented with an insufficient load. Vehicles carrying dangerous goods must be purged and presented with a safe load
• If during the examination the vehicle examiner considers the vehicle is in such a condition that to complete the examination could compromise health and safety, the examination may be aborted, fee forfeited and a complete new application would be required. Also if the vehicle examiner considers the vehicle is not safe to be driven on the roads then you will be asked to remove the vehicle from the Test Centre in a safe manner

Testable items

• Braking systems
• Steering gear
• Condition and maintenance of tyres
• Silencers
• Prevention and reduction of noise
• Smoke fumes or vapour
• Maintenance of lighting equipment
• Maintenance of wipers and washers
• Seat belts and anchorage points
• Side door latches and hinges
• Audible warning and general maintenance and use of the vehicle

Which vehicles require examination?

On the Island we do not refer to the general term MOT as this is a GB reference, we refer to a roadworthiness examination. Generally private cars, vans and motorcycles (not exceeding 3500kg maximum authorised mass, MAM, or GVW in old terms) are not subject to a statutory annual roadworthiness examination.

There are 2 categories of examination which are carried out, these are one off examinations or annually certifiable vehicles.

One off examinations

Any vehicle or motorcycle being imported on to the Island which is more than 5 years old requires a roadworthiness certificate before it can be registered on the Island. (Note, for goods vehicles over 3500kg MAM or GVW which have a VOSA pass certificate with at least six months left to run, can use this document to register the vehicle.) Where an Isle of Man registered vehicle has been declared exported the vehicle will need to be examined before it can be re-registered.

Isle of Man registered vehicles or motorcycles where the road fund duty has elapsed for more than 2 years will require a roadworthiness pass certificate to re-licence them.

Any vehicle or motorcycle that has been written off as a category C will require a roadworthiness certificate in order for it to be licensed/registered (Note: a category D write off will not need to be examined).

Any vehicle or motorcycle which has been issued with a prohibition preventing its use may at the discretion of the issuing officer require a full roadworthiness examination to take place in order to remove the prohibition.

Non EU Type Approved vehicles which are less than 10 years old may also require a Single Vehicle Approval Certificate.

Fees for single vehicle approval inspections:

Required for vehicles imported from non-participating EU member states, vehicles which not can provide documentation to prove they comply with EU construction requirements. Armature built vehicles and manufacturers who produce no more than 200 vehicles per year.

Annually certifiable vehicles

• All articulated goods vehicles
• All goods vehicles which exceed 3500kg MAM or GVW
• All buses and coaches with more than 16 passenger seats used to carry passengers for hire and reward
• All minibuses (a vehicle with more than 8 passenger seats but no more than 16)
• Passenger cars that are to be used as public passenger vehicles (taxis or private hire cars), and
• Hire and drive vehicles which are over 3 years old

Vehicles and motorcycles going to and from a pre-arranged appointment are not required to display a valid road fund duty disc but they must be insured to be driven on the road.

Where a failure note has been issues, a second examination fee is half the full price if tested again within 21 days.

When charging statutory fees they are carried out in accordance with The Licensing and Registration of Vehicles Act 1985 and the associated The Licensing and Registration of Vehicles (Fees) Regulations. (GVW is the Gross Vehicle Weight or Maximum Authorised Mass).

Vehicles which are exempt from annual roadworthiness examinations.

• Motor cars and vans up to a maximum of 3500kg gross weight
• Motorcycles, three wheeled vehicles, trikes and quad bikes
• A motor tractor or locomotive
• A motor ambulance
• Motor home or motor caravan
• An agricultural motor vehicle
• A vehicle to which is used solely under the Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 2000[1] applies
• A fire engine or road roller
• A vehicle propelled by steam
• A vehicle constructed for the purpose of preventing or reducing the effect of snow or ice on roads
• An electrically propelled vehicle
• A breakdown vehicle (lift and tow only)
• An invalid vehicle or hearse
• A vehicle with a maximum speed not exceeding 25 kilometres per hour
• Any trailer
• A works truck
• A digging machine
• An agricultural machine or agricultural trailer
• A pedestrian controlled vehicle or mowing machine
• A track-laying vehicle
• An historic vehicle first used before 1 January 1988 and not used for hire or reward
• A motor vehicle which belongs to a visiting force, or a headquarters or defence organisation, to which an order under section 8 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952[2] (an Act of Parliament)
• Engineering plant

Roadside examinations

Authorised examiners have the legal powers to examine any vehicle being used on the road. They also have the authority to prohibit any vehicle being used. They also have the authority to arrange an inspection at the Vehicle Test Centre. Failure to comply with any of these items means an offence will have been committed.