Standard MOT tests timed for private hire rules

Is a PCO MOT a special test?

No. A PCO MOT is a standard MOT, the same test any Class 4 car takes. Under the MOT classes on gov.uk, Class 4 includes private hire vehicles with up to 8 seats.

We test in our own Class 4 MOT bay at 57 Great North Road, Welwyn Garden City. What is different for a private hire car is the timing TfL sets, so we book the test around your licensing dates.

We do not carry out the TfL licensing inspection. It takes place at sites agreed by TfL, and you book it directly with TfL.

When does TfL need my MOTs done?

TfL’s Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Inspection Manual says that vehicles more than 12 months from their date of manufacture must pass two MOT tests as a condition of continued annual licensing.

• The first MOT certificate must be issued “not more than fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the licensing inspection”, with the inspection date counted as day one.
• The second MOT must be obtained six months from the date the licence is granted.

How do I time the MOT for my inspection?

When you send an enquiry, tell us your TfL inspection date and when your second MOT is due, and we will plan the visit around them where we can. Enquire early, because a test done too soon will not count for the inspection and a late one leaves no time for repairs.

A test early in the 14-day window leaves time to put right anything the MOT finds before the inspection day.

Does an MOT pass mean my car is ready for the inspection?

Not on its own. TfL’s inspection manual warns that a minor defect or an advisory notice may not fail the MOT but could still be treated as a licensing inspection failure.

TfL also refuses a vehicle with one or more driver warning lamps lit. For the MOT itself, DVSA’s MOT inspection manual lists an engine warning lamp that shows a fault as a Major defect on diesels first used from 1 July 2008. If a warning lamp is on, we can diagnose why before the test.

For the wider list of things TfL checks, ask for our PCO pre-inspection check alongside the MOT.

What happens if my car fails the MOT?

• We explain each failure item, with photos where it helps.
• You get a written quote for the repairs.
• No repair starts until you give your written approval.
• You decide what is repaired, and when.

DVSA sets the rules for MOT retests. You can read them on gov.uk.

Is my car licensed by a council instead of TfL?

Other councils set their own rules. For a new licence, Hertsmere, for example, asks for an MOT and a council compliance assessment at one of two garages it names, both passed within 14 days before you apply. We are not one of those garages: we can MOT and prepare the car, but we do not carry out the council’s assessment. Check your own council’s current rules before you book.

What about safety recalls?

TfL refuses a vehicle with an outstanding DVSA safety recall. Recall work is done by the manufacturer’s network, not by us. Check your vehicle on gov.uk before your inspection and arrange any open recall in good time.

Can I book a service with my MOT?

Yes. Because the MOT bay is on site, you can ask to book your MOT and a service on the same visit. See PCO and chauffeur car servicing.

How do I book?

Use the enquiry form on this page. Give us your registration, your TfL inspection date and a preferred date, and we will reply during opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, and Saturday 8am to 1pm.