What is the difference between an MOT and a service?

Wondering whether a service is the same as an MOT? Our guide breaks down the key differences, what each involves, and why you need to do both.

An MOT and a service are both important aspects of owning a car. They shouldn’t be confused, though – an MOT and a service are two different things.

MOT stands for Ministry of Transport. The MOT test is an annual roadworthiness check. A service is a scheduled car maintenance, which involves an inspection and the replacement of some consumable parts, such as engine oil.

What is an MOT?

An MOT is an annual roadworthiness check. It’s compulsory once cars are three years old and must be carried out every 12 months until a car is 40 years old. Once a car is over 40, it’s exempt, though some owners of older vehicles still put their car through the MOT check for peace of mind.

The MOT was first introduced by the Ministry of Transport in 1960. Initially for cars aged 10 or older, this was reduced to seven years at the end of 1961. The current requirement for vehicles aged three and older was introduced in 1967.

What is included in an MOT?

The first MOT tests were quite basic, covering brakes, lights and steering.

Today, the MOT test is far more thorough, including checks to the following:

• Brakes
• Steering
• Tyres and wheels
• Lights
• Seat belts
• Bodywork and structure
• Mirrors, wipers and windscreen
• Horn
• Number plates
• Exhaust and emissions
• Fuel system
• Diesel particulate filter (if fitted)
• Speedometer
• VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) plate
• Bonnet and boot latches

The main reason for the MOT remains the same – it exists to make sure that cars are safe, catching any safety-related faults so that they can be fixed before the car is allowed back on the road. The MOT test also serves an environmental function, to make sure cars meet the required emission standards.

No car over three years old and under 40 should be on the road without a valid MOT. The test must be repeated every year, and can take place up to a month (minus a day) before the old MOT certificate expires.

What is a car service?

A car service is different from an MOT – the two shouldn’t be confused.

Servicing a car involves a series of checks, along with replacement of some fluids and other parts. Typically, the car’s engine oil and oil filter will be replaced each year, or every couple of years in some cases.

It’s common for more involved services (often called ‘major’ services) to alternate with more basic servicing (sometimes called ‘minor’ services).

The car manufacturer will set out a service schedule for each make and model. Usually a car will need a service after a set period (a year or two) or a certain mileage (say, every 10,000 miles), whichever comes sooner. Having the car serviced on time and to the manufacturer’s requirements should keep it working well and will also preserve the car’s warranty. If a car hasn’t been serviced to the maker’s schedule, then warranty claims may be refused if a part breaks or something stops working.

Some cars have variable service intervals. In this case, the car uses sensors and data to monitor key components and will let the driver know when it needs to be serviced, depending on how it’s driven.

Servicing your car on time is the sensible thing to do, but unlike an MOT test it’s not a legal requirement. The owner can decide whether to have servicing carried out and how often.

We’d recommend following the manufacturer’s servicing schedule, but nobody is going to force you to do so if you are the car’s owner.

What is included in a car service?

It varies. The make and model and the car’s age and mileage all contribute to what may be carried out at a service.

A really basic service will consist of a quick inspection and an oil and filter change. This involves draining the old oil (which becomes contaminated over time) and replacing it with fresh oil of the correct grade. The filter, which removes impurities from the oil such as tiny metal particles, is typically replaced at the same time.

The inspection part of the service usually involves checking other fluids, such as the coolant and windscreen-washer reservoir, and making sure the tyres, brakes, and other components and consumables are working and without signs of excessive wear.

Such minor services often alternate with bigger services. These usually cover all the work that’s tackled in a minor service, along with a brake fluid change and possibly new spark plugs. A cambelt change (if the car has one) is typically scheduled once every four or five years.

It’s not unusual for a service to uncover other items that need attention. The air conditioning will need its gas replaced from time to time, wheels may need their alignment corrected, and tyres will need to be replaced once they wear down close to the legal minimum.

Your car will have a service book that will give you more detail for your particular make and model.

MOT vs service: what’s the difference?

An MOT check and a car service are both important aspects of maintaining your car and making sure it’s safe and roadworthy. However, they are not the same – there are important differences between an MOT and a service.

	MOT	Service
Required by law	Yes, for cars between three and 40 years old.	No, regular car servicing is not a legal requirement. But routine servicing could catch a fault that would make your car illegal and unsafe.
Checks for safety-related faults	Yes, that’s the main purpose of the MOT test.	Yes, a typical car service will include several safety checks.
Replaces parts as required by the car manufacturer’s schedule	No, the MOT is a test, no parts are replaced. It may be that some components need repair or replacement to pass, but strictly speaking that’s not part of the MOT. If the car needs work to pass this will need to be carried out before the car is retested.	Yes. Generally the engine oil and filter will be replaced at every service. Other components will be replaced at intervals set by the manufacturer, or when they show signs of excessive wear.
Likely to cost hundreds of pounds	An MOT test costs no more than £54.85, but some garages will charge less. If the car passes there will be nothing more to pay. If it fails, you’ll need to pay parts and labour for whatever is needed to bring your car up to standard.	A basic service could cost as little as £75, but probably upwards of £100. A major service will set you back several hundred pounds. If extra work is due, such as replacing the cambelt, this will ramp up the cost further.

Difference between an MOT and a service FAQs

Is a service the same as an MOT?

No, the two are not the same. A service is scheduled maintenance for your car. The MOT is a test to make sure that a car is safe and roadworthy.

Do you need both MOT and service?

The MOT is a legal requirement for cars older than three years but younger than 40 years. Servicing your car is not required by law, but it’s something you should do to keep your car working well. Missing a service might save money in the short term, but you could face a bigger bill further down the line if a major component fails because you skimped on maintenance.

How long does a service and an MOT take?

Most car services can be completed in an hour or so for a minor service up to a few hours for a major service. An MOT usually takes 45 minutes to an hour. With either a service or an MOT, your car is usually ready to collect at the end of the day if you drop it off at the garage in the morning. It could be longer if unexpected work is needed and parts need to be ordered.

How much is a service and an MOT?

A service? The cost will vary hugely. A quick oil and filter service at an independent garage could cost as little as £75, but more likely it will be over £100. A major service will cost several hundred pounds. The exact price will depend on what’s involved, the make and model, and the garage carrying out the service. As a rule, main dealers are likely to charge more than independent garages.

An MOT costs up to £54.85, but some garages will carry out the work for less. If your car fails the test, you will need to pay for the work needed to put the car back in a safe and roadworthy condition. The cost will vary depending on the nature of the fault.

Do electric cars need MOT and service?

Yes, electric cars need an MOT and servicing. An EV doesn’t go through noise and emissions testing as part of the MOT, but it does undergo the other parts of the test to make sure the car is roadworthy. Servicing is also part of owning and running an electric car, but with fewer moving parts electric car servicing is generally more straightforward than servicing a car with an internal combustion engine.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Click here to follow us on WhatsApp, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos.