Electric and hybrid vehicle MOT.
A fully electric car needs an MOT at three years old, exactly like a petrol or diesel. It is the same Class 4 test, to the same DVSA standard. The one difference is there is no exhaust emissions test, because there is no exhaust.
We test electric and hybrid vehicles alongside everything else. Book online with your reg, or call if you want to check anything first.
Every safety check is identical.
An electric car is still a car. The brakes, steering, tyres, lights and structure all have to meet the same legal standard as any other vehicle, and they are checked the same way.
- Brakes, steering, suspension and wheel bearings
- Tyres, wheels and tread depth
- Lights, indicators and headlamp aim
- Windscreen, wipers, washers and mirrors
- Seatbelts, airbags and the horn
- Structure, doors, VIN and warning lights
For the full breakdown, see what a tester checks →
The few things worth knowing.
An EV MOT is mostly the same test, but there are a couple of honest differences worth understanding before you book.
A fully electric car has no exhaust, so the emissions part of the test simply does not apply. Nothing replaces it, the car just skips that stage.
The MOT does not measure the condition, state of charge or range of the traction battery. It confirms the car is roadworthy on the day, not how much life is left in the battery. For that you would look to the manufacturer or a battery specialist.
EVs are heavier and have instant torque, so tyres can wear faster, while regenerative braking often means the friction brakes do less work and can seize if left. Both are checked in the MOT, and both are worth keeping an eye on between tests.
A hybrid still has an engine.
A hybrid, whether self-charging or plug-in, has a petrol or diesel engine as well as a motor, so it is tested exactly like a conventional car, emissions test included. The electric side does not change the MOT, it just means there is a bit more going on under the bonnet.
Either way, the due date is the same as any car: the first MOT at three years old, then once every 12 months. Not sure when yours is due? check your MOT date →
EV or hybrid due a test?
Book it in with your reg. A Class 4 MOT is a fixed £49.99, tested while you wait.
All prices include VAT. MOTs are zero-rated, so there is no VAT on an MOT.