The 2026 equipment prices start from about £9,795 for a Class 1 and 2 motorcycle bay, £20,995 to £34,995 for a Class 4 bay, and £23,995 to £31,995 for a Class 7 bay. A pit-based Class 4 setup is listed from about £17,435. These figures cover equipment rather than the complete installed project.
The total budget also needs to allow for installation, building work where required, calibration, LOLER thorough examination for a lift, servicing, training and the costs attached to running the MOT testing service.
Equipment cost by class
The class determines the core equipment and therefore the starting budget. These are the 2026 supply figures:
- Class 1 and 2 motorcycle bay: from about £9,795
- Class 4 bay: about £20,995 to £34,995
- Pit-based Class 4 bay: from about £17,435
- Class 7 bay: about £23,995 to £31,995
The figures cover the core test equipment: the lift or pit equipment, brake tester, headlamp tester, decelerometer, emissions equipment and play detectors. The spread reflects the equipment configuration, including One Person Test Lane and Automated Test Lane options, and the selected brand.
Installation and building work
The equipment prices are supply-only figures. Installation adds the work needed to prepare and commission the bay, including lift installation, connected test equipment and any site work required by the layout.
A pit may require construction and drainage. A raised-floor, pit-free bay needs a suitable level, load-rated slab. A lift needs a concrete base prepared to the lift manufacturer’s specification for thickness and strength.
There is no single installation price because the work depends on the site. The MOT bay installation, design and layout guide explains the work in more detail.
Calibration, LOLER and ongoing costs
Once the bay is operating, allow for calibration of the connected test equipment at the applicable intervals, servicing of the lift and test equipment, and a LOLER thorough examination of the vehicle lift at least every 12 months.
The MOT testing service connection and the DVSA slot fee are ongoing operating costs. Calibration and LOLER are separate requirements and should not be treated as one service interval.
DVSA slot fee and test income
The DVSA slot fee is about £2.05, charged for each test pass recorded on the MOT testing service. The statutory maximum test fees are £54.85 for a Class 4 car, £58.60 for Class 7 and £29.65 for a motorcycle, and those maximums have been frozen since April 2010.
Those figures are ceilings rather than a statement of what every garage charges. The maximum is not necessarily the local market rate.
Lift bay or pit bay
A pit-based Class 4 bay is listed from about £17,435 compared with a £20,995 entry point for a lift bay. The lower equipment figure does not make a pit the right choice for every site.
A pit is a permanent construction. A lift can be installed without a permanent inspection pit and can be relocated. The decision should be based on the building, floor, ownership of the premises and the way the workshop will use the bay.
What a bay earns back
As an illustration rather than a payback promise: at the £54.85 Class 4 maximum, 15 tests a week would gross about £42,800 a year before costs. Allowing the £2.05 slot fee on every one of those tests leaves about £41,200, which is the cautious end of the range because the fee is only charged on a pass.
Actual payback depends on test volume, the price charged locally, operating costs and any repair or servicing work generated by the tests. The figures above are an illustration only.
MOT bay cost FAQs
How much does an MOT bay cost to set up?
The 2026 equipment figures start from about £9,795 for a motorcycle bay, £20,995 to £34,995 for a Class 4 bay and £23,995 to £31,995 for Class 7, before installation and site work.
Is a pit bay cheaper than a lift bay?
The 2026 figures put a pit-based Class 4 bay from about £17,435 and a lift bay from £20,995. A pit also brings permanent construction work, so the equipment figure is only one part of the decision.
What ongoing costs does an MOT bay have?
Allow for equipment calibration at the applicable intervals, LOLER thorough examination of a vehicle lift, servicing, the MOT testing service and the DVSA slot fee.
How much can I charge for an MOT?
The statutory maximums are £54.85 for a Class 4 car, £58.60 for Class 7 and £29.65 for a motorcycle, frozen since April 2010. They are maximum fees, not a guaranteed local selling price.
What does the equipment price include?
The core package is the lift or pit equipment, brake tester, headlamp tester, decelerometer, emissions equipment and play detectors, with the final figure varying by lane configuration and equipment brand.
Do I need DVSA approval as well?
Yes. Installing the bay does not itself authorise the site to carry out MOT testing. See the DVSA approval guide for the approval process.