Plan the MOT bay in the order that the decisions affect each other: choose the class, check the building, decide on lift or pit, choose the test-lane equipment, set the full budget and work through DVSA approval. Fixing the class and layout first avoids specifying equipment for a bay that the building cannot accommodate.
Step 1: Choose your class
The MOT class determines the vehicles you can test and drives the bay layout and equipment specification. Class 4 covers cars and light vans, Class 1 and 2 cover motorcycles, and Class 7 covers conventional goods vehicles over 3,000kg up to and including 3,500kg plus, from 1 June 2026, qualifying zero-emission goods vehicles up to and including 4,250kg.
Decide which classes the site needs before choosing the lift, pit or test equipment.
Step 2: Check your space
For Class 4, allow at least 3.6m clear width with 2.4m headroom, rising to 3.8m over the lift, plus the space required for the brake tester and headlamp-test areas.
Measure the building against the full layout rather than the lift alone. The installation and design guide covers the dimensions, clearances and services in detail.
Step 3: Lift or pit
Choose between a four-post or scissor lift, an inspection pit or a raised-floor pit-free arrangement. A lift can be quicker to install and relocated later; a pit is a permanent construction and leaves the floor above clear.
The building, floor and long-term use of the bay should decide the layout.
Step 4: Choose your equipment
Decide whether the bay will be a One Person Test Lane or an Automated Test Lane (ATL), then specify the brake tester, headlamp tester, emissions equipment, play detectors and decelerometer.
For a new bay, the relevant connected equipment must send readings to the MOT testing service. The ATL and automated test lanes explained article sets out the difference between ATL and OPTL.
Step 5: Budget the bay
Class 4 equipment starts from around £20,995 in 2026 before installation, building work, calibration, LOLER and training. The project budget therefore needs to cover more than the equipment list.
Use the MOT bay cost guide for the figures and the factors that sit outside the supply price.
Step 6: Get DVSA approved
Installing the equipment does not itself authorise the site to carry out MOT testing. The business and site must go through the DVSA approval process, covering the premises, equipment and trained roles.
The DVSA approval guide covers Form VT01, the site assessment and the required roles.
Your MOT bay planning checklist
- Class or classes to be tested confirmed
- Building measured against the relevant bay dimensions
- Lift, pit or raised-floor layout selected
- One Person Test Lane or ATL equipment selected
- Power, air, drainage and internet requirements checked
- Budget includes equipment, installation, building work, calibration, LOLER and training
- DVSA application, site assessment and training under way
- Site survey booked