Do Motorhomes Need an MOT? Class 4, £54.85, Any Weight

Do motorhomes need an MOT?

Figures checked against GOV.UK on 15 September 2026.

Yes. A motorhome needs its first MOT on the third anniversary of its first registration and one every year after that. Motor caravans are tested in MOT class 4, the same test as a car, with a maximum fee of £54.85, and that class does not change above 3,500kg. GOV.UK and DVSA figures checked on 15 September 2026. Enter a reg to see the MOT status and expiry date DVLA holds.

New or nearly new? Work out when the first MOT is due

Which MOT class is a motorhome?

The DVSA MOT testing guide defines class 4 as “cars, passenger vehicles, motor caravans, private hire vehicles, motor tricycles, quadricycles and dual purpose vehicles in all cases with up to eight passenger seats; goods vehicles not exceeding 3,000kg design gross weight (DGW)”, plus “passenger vehicles, ambulances, motor caravans and dual purpose vehicles with nine to twelve passenger seats”. Class 7 is “goods vehicles over 3,000kg up to and including 3,500kg DGW”. Class 5 is passenger vehicles and motor caravans with thirteen or more seats, which is not a motorhome anyone buys.

Read those definitions side by side and the answer to the forum argument is plain. The weight steps apply to goods vehicles. Motor caravans sit in class 4 by seat count, with no weight qualifier at all, so a 3,500kg coachbuilt, a 3,850kg up-plated one and a 4,500kg A-class all take the same class 4 test. The mistake comes from the base vehicle: a 3.5 tonne Ducato panel van is class 7, and people assume the motorhome built on it is too.

MOT fees for motorhomes

DVSA sets maximum fees. A test station may charge less and cannot charge more.

Class	Vehicle	Maximum fee
4	Motor caravans (up to 8 passenger seats), the same row as cars	£54.85
4	Class 4 vehicles with 9 to 12 passenger seats	£57.30
7	Petrol, diesel and hybrid goods vehicles over 3,000kg up to 3,500kg DGW (a van conversion still registered as a van)	£58.60

When is the first MOT due?

GOV.UK: a vehicle needs its first MOT on “the third anniversary of its registration”, then annually. The checker above works that out from the month of first registration on the DVLA record; the V5C gives the exact day. Northern Ireland runs its own scheme through the DVA, where cars are tested from four years old and motor caravans are not listed separately.

Two things to know when buying. DVLA holds no MOT status for a motorhome under three years old, which is normal rather than a warning. And a valid MOT is a snapshot of one day: the history, with every advisory and the mileage at each test, is what tells you how the vehicle has been used. Read how to check a motorhome’s MOT history.

Over 3,500kg: still class 4, not an HGV test

The annual HGV test applies to goods vehicles over 3,500kg and to certain trailers. A motor caravan is not a goods vehicle, so a 3,850kg, 4,250kg or 5,000kg motorhome stays in class 4. What changes is the practical side: not every class 4 lane has the length, the lift capacity or the roller brake tester rating for a 7.5 metre, 4.5 tonne vehicle. Ask the station before you book, or use one that advertises motorhome testing. The tax class does change at 3,500kg, to £177 a year: see the motorhome road tax checker.

What the MOT does not look at

The MOT inspects the base vehicle. It does not test the gas system, the mains or 12 volt electrics, the water system, the fridge or heater, the seals or the body for damp. Those are the job of a habitation check, which is not a legal requirement but is usually a condition of a manufacturer’s water ingress warranty and is the inspection that finds the expensive faults. Prices and what it covers are on motorhome habitation check cost. And neither test looks at the registers that matter most when buying: stolen markers, outstanding finance and insurance write-offs. Those are on the £4.99 motorhome history check.

Touring caravans

A touring caravan has no MOT. The MOT scheme covers motor vehicles in classes 1 to 7, and the trailer annual test covers goods trailers over 1,020kg unladen with powered braking, semi-trailers and horseboxes over 3,500kg, none of which describes a caravan with overrun brakes. The full answer, and what to do instead, is on do caravans need an MOT.

Frequently asked questions

Is a motorhome MOT class 4 or class 7?+

Class 4. The DVSA testing guide lists motor caravans in class 4 with no weight limit; class 7 is for goods vehicles between 3,000kg and 3,500kg design gross weight. A van conversion whose V5C still says panel van is a goods vehicle until it is reclassified, so it may be tested as class 7 if it is over 3,000kg.

How much is a motorhome MOT?+

The maximum fee for a class 4 motor caravan is £54.85. That is a ceiling set by DVSA, so a garage can charge less, and many do. A class 4 motor caravan with 9 to 12 passenger seats is £57.30, and a class 7 goods vehicle is £58.60.

When does a new motorhome need its first MOT?+

On the third anniversary of its first registration in Great Britain, then every year. In Northern Ireland the first test for cars is at four years old; nidirect does not list motor caravans separately, so check with the DVA for a motorhome registered there.

Does a motorhome over 3,500kg need an HGV test?+

No. The annual HGV test is for goods vehicles over 3,500kg. A motor caravan of 3,850kg, 4,250kg or 5,000kg is still tested in class 4 under DVSA's class definitions. The practical issue is finding a class 4 station whose lane can take the length and weight; phone before booking.

Do campervans need an MOT?+

Yes, on the same three-year-then-annual cycle. If the V5C body type says motor caravan it is a class 4 test. If it still says panel van, the tester treats it as a goods vehicle: class 4 up to 3,000kg design gross weight, class 7 from 3,000kg to 3,500kg.

Does the MOT check the habitation area?+

No. The MOT covers the base vehicle: brakes, steering, tyres, lights, emissions, structure and seat belts. Damp, the gas system, the 12 volt and mains electrics, the water system and appliances are covered by a separate habitation check, which is not a legal requirement but is usually needed to keep a manufacturer's water ingress warranty.

Do touring caravans need an MOT?+

No. The MOT scheme covers motor vehicles in classes 1 to 7, and the annual test for trailers applies to goods trailers over 1,020kg unladen with powered braking, semi-trailers and horseboxes over 3,500kg. A touring caravan with overrun brakes is outside both. You remain responsible for its roadworthiness, and an annual service is the usual answer.

Can I see a motorhome's MOT history for free?+

Yes. GOV.UK publishes every MOT result, advisory and recorded mileage by registration at no cost. Our free summary shows the same data with the mileage charted, and the £4.99 history check adds the stolen, finance and write-off registers that the MOT record cannot show.