Book an MOT & Car Service at your local National Tyres and Autocare.

While MOTs and services are different, it can be a good idea to book them together to save time, money, effort, and more. First, let’s look at the differences between them.

MOTs are legally required for vehicles three years or older and must be booked every year after – you can’t drive a car without an MOT. They focus on an MOT checklist that’s decided by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), which is informed by vehicle laws spanning factors including tyre tread, driver’s road view, and exhaust emissions. These sorts of MOT factors can stop a car from working well but are more focused on protecting you, other drivers, and road infrastructure.

Services are not a legal requirement, but they are based on a list set out by your vehicle’s manufacturer. Most recommend a service every six to 12 months. They focus on a wide range of factors, and while there often is crossover with MOTs, they also look at extra items such as engine oil, brake pads, and fluid levels. With no servicing, your car will be much more liable to break down.

So, why combine a car service and MOT?

• It’s simpler – Since MOT and service assessments take place every year, getting them done at the same time, year in, year out can save you plenty of hassle when it comes to organising your car maintenance.
• Remember them – 54% of drivers don’t know when their next service is due, according to 2021 Highways England figures. By getting your service performed at the same time as your MOT (which you shouldn’t ignore, or you will be breaking the law), you won’t forget about it, which will lead to less temperamental motoring overall.
• Prevent breakdowns – Highways England states that of the 85,000 breakdowns that happen each year, 40% are due to easily preventable maintenance issues. These will typically be prevented with regular servicing.
• Save time – Booking a full service and MOT near you together is the two-birds-one-stone approach to car maintenance. Why space them out and double the admin?
• Reduce costs – With MOT and service packages typically costing less than if they were booked separately, you can reduce costs on two assessments you should ideally be getting performed every year. What’s more, opting out of servicing and getting problems fixed when your car breaks down can be much more expensive than identifying the problem and repairing it early on.

We think that boking an MOT and service, near you at the same time, is a smart choice.

 National Tyres and Autocare have been helping the UK’s motorists since 1970. Our 50-plus years of experience has shown us time and time again that going the extra mile is what matters to our customers when booking a car service and MOT.

Whatever vehicle you drive, you need to be sure that your MOT and service is carried out by a trained professional that knows what they’re looking for – an expert that won’t cut corners or keep your car in the workshop for longer than needed.

Our testers are exactly that. With stringent training, continual reassessment by the DVSA, and the experience of performing tens of thousands of MOTs and services every year, you can trust them. And with over a thousand autocare professionals working hard across over 240 National locations, chances are you’ll be able to arrange an appointment that suits you too.

And finally, because we know that cars are crucial for every driver, we offer National Payment Assist. If your order comes to over £200 (MOT and service plus tyres and repairs, for example), you can split it out into four equal payments with no interest, and absolutely no fees. Because everyone deserves to get from A to B.

Arrange your MOT and service with the mechanics that go the extra mile.

Book now 

The current MOT cost with National is £44.99 (MOT) if you sign up for our free reminder service.

The INTERIM Service package costs from £159.99, combined with an MOT costs just £189.99. A FULL Service costs from £219.99 and just £244.99 when combined with an MOT. A MAJOR Service costs from £269.99 and just £289.99 when combined with an MOT.

The INTERIM Service is best for drivers about to head on a long journey or who are at the mid-point of their MOT, while the FULL Service is much more comprehensive. A MAJOR service is our most comprehensive service which includes everything needed in an annual service plus we change parts recommended for replacements every two years e.g. brake fluid change and a cabin filter. It is recommended that this service is carried out every two years in place of a full service. 

The government sets a maximum price for MOTs - £54.85 for cars and £29.65 for motorcycles, increasing in tandem with vehicle size and passenger numbers, to £124.50 for large buses. We believe in giving you an MOT and service at the best possible cost, which is why all our MOTs cost less than these maximum prices.

View our servicing packages 

Yes, you can. National Tyres and Autocare’s FULL Service package or a MAJOR Service package can be booked alongside an MOT. There are no government rules against combining the two, and if you haven’t had a service in a while, getting one after the MOT checks are performed can be a great way of simplifying your maintenance requirements.

With National, you can book both at the same time via our tool above, or book them separately and try and request the same date. We would recommend booking them together though, as the latter option may mean you are unable to request the same date.

Learn more about servicing 

Typically, MOT tests take 45 minutes to one hour to complete, while services take between one and a half, to three hours. That means between one hour 45 minutes and four hours is the norm.

That said, every vehicle is different, so the time it takes your car to be serviced may take a much shorter or longer period, for instance, if it passes with flying colours or needs replacement parts and extensive repairs.  We may require your vehicle to be dropped with us first thing in the morning and we will be in touch once the work has been completed.

If you book an MOT and service with National, we’ll be upfront with you about how long your MOT and service will take. If it requires a bit more time, we’ll be in touch straight away and be clear about why this is the case – such as whether your car has failed its MOT .

If you would like a more in-depth idea of how long your MOT and service will take with National, get in touch today.

There are a few things we recommend you bring along to your MOT and service that will speed up the process and make sure our technicians can perform their checks as quickly and effectively as possible.

• Vehicle service book – So we can view the vehicle’s repair and replacement history.
• Wheel keys and nuts – Most cars have specialised locking nuts or keys which release the wheels. Bring these along, as MOTs require the wheels to be removed.
• Empty boot – Spare tyres are covered in the MOT and service, so be sure to clear out your boot so the technician can inspect yours simply.
• V5C registration form – For vehicles undergoing an MOT for the first time.

Find answers to other important MOT and service questions below.

Will my digital service records be updated?

No. We do not update a vehicle’s Digital Service Record. 

Can you send me my MOT certificate online?

If you would like a copy of your MOT certificate after your MOT and service (if you wish to sell the car or want to have the documentation to hand, for example), then all you need to do is wait for our team to pass your vehicle, then use the government’s free service.

Yes. A car service will help improve the overall performance of your car. Safety is the main and probably the most important aspect of a car service as this will ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive. A regular service for your vehicle will also maintain its value, meaning that if you look to sell your car or van on in the future, that it will be more valuable than a vehicle that has not been regularly serviced. During a car service, there are a number of areas that are checked which will greatly improve the performance of the vehicle. To reduce the risk of mechanical issues, a quick and easy oil and filter change will ensure that the car engine is kept lubricated to maximise the life of your engine. A car that is not regularly serviced will produce more emissions, however regular car servicing will reduce this, which will result in fewer harmful emissions pumped out into the environment. On a car service, your tyres will also be checked, ensuring that the tyres have enough air in them to ensure optimum performance levels, as well as inspecting if there is any structural damage. Car tyres can improve fuel efficiency, your overall safety on the roads and also improve handling characteristics. If you have an issue with either your steering or suspension, this can be easily diagnosed during a car service- if any repairs need to occur, this will greatly improve your overall driving performance and experience.

If you are wanting to know when your car service to due, this information can be found in your car service book. However, if you believe that there may be some car service information missing from your service book, you can contact your vehicle manufacturer directly and they will be able to let you know if and when your car has been serviced by a franchised dealership. If you notice that your car has not had a service for a long period of time, we would recommend booking in for a Full Service at your National Tyres and Autocare branch. If you are about to embark on a long car journey and are looking for that extra peace of mind, we would recommend booking in for an oil & filter change service, even if your car service is not due.

For an oil & filter change, this should occur whenever it needs replacing. If you are unsure of when you need this, you can book in at your local National Tyres and Autocare branch for a FREE visual health check. During this health check, our highly trained branch staff will be able to let you know if you are due an oil & filter change. For an Interim Service, it is recommended that this is completed every 6,000 miles or 6 months, whichever occurs first. Booking in for a regular 6-month Interim service will ensure that your vehicle is performing to its optimum level and will also give the branch staff an opportunity to identify if there are any issues. For a Full Service, National Tyres and Autocare recommend that this is completed every 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is an important requirement to maximise vehicle safety and ensure your engine, tyres, steering and many other aspects of your vehicle are functioning correctly. For more information on car servicing, the following blog article will be useful: How often should you service your car?

Yes, a car service can improve MPG, saving your money in the process. Whether it be an oil & filter change, an Interim Service or a Full Service this can ease the burden on your engine and help improve the fuel efficiency of either your car or van. If your vehicle has any issues, this can affect your fuel efficiency meaning that your vehicle will need to use more fuel. During a car service, the National Tyres and Autocare branch staff will carry out a number of essential safety checks which consequently will help improve MPG. It is also important to note that tyres can also improve MPG. If your car tyres have a tread depth below the legal requirement or any rips or bulges, it will be identified during a car service. At National Tyres and Autocare, we stock a number of tyres in order to suit any budget- whether that be premium tyres, mid-range tyres or budget tyres if you are a looking for a value choice tyre.

You cannot check your car service records online. However, your vehicle manufacturer will be able to locate your full service history. If your service records are not located in your service history book and you want to see if any servicing history is missing from your service book, then you will need to contact your vehicle manufacturer. When contacting your car manufacturer, they will ask for you to provide your VIN number (vehicle identification number). If you do not know where to find your cars VIN number, you can find this either in the engine compartment or on your cars doorframe. Once this has been provided, your vehicle manufacturer will be able to instantly check the service history of your car and let you know if the vehicle has been serviced at a reputable garage, such as ourselves at National Tyres and Autocare.

During a car service, a number of essential checks will occur to ensure optimum performance levels of your vehicle and also maximise car safety. When looking at how a car service is completed, this will depend on which level of car service you have purchased. An oil & filter change will ensure the car engine to lubricated correctly. During an Interim Service a number of checks will be undertaken while a full service will consist of a comprehensive health check. All of these services will be undertaken at your local National Tyres and Autocare branch. As the car needs to go onto our vehicle ramp, so that the branch staff can fully inspect and carry out essential checks, a service can only be completed in-branch and cannot be completed by a mobile driver, unlike a mobile tyre-fitting service. During the service, you will be advised to leave your vehicle with the branch staff to allow them to complete to work and have the opportunity to rectify any issues that they may find during their inspections.

No, car servicing is not a legal requirement. This is unlike a car MOT which is a legal requirement that needs to take place on a yearly basis. However, even though car servicing is not a legal requirement, there are still a whole host of benefits in getting a car service. There are a number of reasons why you should service your car. Firstly, regular car servicing is vitally important if you are wanting to ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive and that there are no mechanical faults or defects. Car servicing prevents vehicle malfunctioning and also it is proven to prolong the life of your car. Fuel efficiency is improved if you service your car on a regular basis, whether that be a standard oil & filter change, an Interim Service of a Full Service. Car Servicing that also help and maintain the cars maintenance record which is noted in the car service book. This can be a great benefit if you are looking to sell your car in the future as cars with a full service history, or even a partial service history are more expensive than cars with no service records at all. A great example of this is vehicle purchasing companies such as We Buy Any Car. If you head over to We Buy Any Car and enter your vehicle registration, you will see that you will receive more money for your vehicle if there are car service records. If you have no car service records, you will not be able to sell your vehicle for as much money as a car with a service history.

It is important that you check directly with your vehicle manufacturer that it is okay to get your car serviced elsewhere than the vehicle manufacturer’s main dealer. At National Tyres and Autocare, we pride ourselves on always using manufacturer-approved parts when conducting a car service, whether that be an oil & filter change, an Interim Service or a Full Service. In some occasions, vehicle manufacturers may request that you use a main dealer such as National Tyres and Autocare. This is to ensure that the vehicle continues to function at its optimum level. There is a risk that if you were to get your car serviced at an independent dealer than manufacturer-approved parts will not be used. This will void your manufacturer warranty. If your car is serviced incorrectly and the correct parts are not used this will cause issues with your vehicle manufacturer. Here at National Tyres and Autocare, we would always recommend using a National Tyres branch for a car service if you are wanting to ensure that you don’t void your vehicle manufacturer warranty.

If your car is in for a service at a National Tyres and Autocare branch, you technically do not need to bring anything with you- our branch staff will complete the work and let you know when the vehicle is ready for collection. If you are booked in for an oil & filter change, you will not be able to get your car service book stamped. However, if you are booked in for an Interim Service or a Full Service, if you bring along your car service book, this will be stamped. It is important to get your car service book stamped to ensure that your car service history is kept up to date. Once your car service book has been stamped, this will be proof that your car has been into National Tyres and Autocare for a car service and that manufacturer-approved parts have been used. This is important if you sell the car in the future or if your vehicle manufacturer has stated that manufacturer-approved parts need to be used during a car service.

A full service history means that a car has been serviced on a regular basis and in line with the recommended manufacturer’s service schedule. A full service history also requires a note of any repair work that has been completed on the vehicle. This is important if you are looking to sell your car. A car with a full service history is more valuable than a car with no service history. If you are wanting proof that a vehicle has a full service history, then you can check this is your car service record book.

You can check your service history in your service book. For more information, please click on the following article: How to check service history.