Cheap MOTs: Colchester, Cambridge and East of Eng...

[MSE Andrea]

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Paying for MOT repairs can take a hefty wack from your wallet. Yet there's a way to cut this cost. The first point of call is read the full Cheap MOTs article. This discussion is specifically to talk about MOTs in your local area:

Cheap East of England MOTs

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[moneypudden]

Just a note for the benefit of those considering using the Coval Lane MoT centre in Chelmsford, Essex. The site has been closed down, for housing devlopment so i understand and its work outsourced to a local Ford dealership (at least that's what one of the testers told me before it closed).

The nearest centres now appear to be at Colchester and Loughton, so any recommendations for fair minded Mot operators in the Chelmsford area would be welcomed.



Thanks.

[sturll]

Id say avoid CALIFORNIA MOT in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire. The place is full of cowboys who failed my car on a shocker that they had fitted 2 weeks before. Then suddenly oh - actually its not a fail.

Rip Off merchants.

[maple41]

Here is a recommendation for cheap MOTs in Peterborough MOT24hr.co.uk I have used them twice recently and they are excellent. They are open 24 hours a day for commercial vehicle servicing and have started doing car MOTs at £39.95. You can book a slot online and pay at the time or when the MOT is done. No pressure to "identify" work that needs doing to pass. Very professional. I have no connection with them, just very impressed.

[spiro]

Hertfordshire MOT based in Welwyn just off A1M Junction 6

http://www.royton-express.com/

Open six days a week, no bookings, drive through service, 2 testing lanes, TV to watch while you wait or PS2 game to play on. £40.

Dont do repairs so no 'unexplained' failures.

[Claire B]

Ive managed to find a council MOT Test Centre in Lowestoft Suffolk....the address is Rotterdam Rd, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 2EF

[onredbull]

Originally Posted by Claire B

Ive managed to find a council MOT Test Centre in Lowestoft Suffolk....the address is Rotterdam Rd, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 2EF

Hiya,
Thanks Claire B for this MOT centre info.
Just wondered if you have used it before and do i have to pre-book?
Would i need to book early ?
Do you have a contact no please.

I will have a look online and do a search myself but just wondered if anyone has anything to say about this council MOT centre or any others in this area and local areas like Great Yarmouth, Gorleston, Norwich ect.

Thanks.

[paulturner]

There is a council MOT station in East Dereham where my wife and myself take our taxi's for council and MOTs tests.

They are always very fair and we have only had one failure in 12 tests.

Serco
Rash’s Green Industrial Estate
Dereham
Norfolk NR19 1JG

Telephone: 01362 852866

[libbyc3]

Allround autocare in colchester is a fab independent garage that are very honest when it comes to MOT and servicing.
no I'm not connected to them - just very impressed

[gillycat1]

I've just had my car MOTed at Quality Deals (Fenlake Rd industrial estate) 01234 266193 and they have an offer at the moment of MOT at £29.99 if you have a full service - and the price they quoted me for that was only £78.95. Overall price (£108.94) the best I could find, and they seem to have done a good job to the best of my knowledge. Friendly service too. The next best was Nationwide with MOT at £27 if you book online, but the service costs were much higher.

[photome]

RAC garage on whiffler rd Norwich has been £25 for ages with a voucher that is always in the free paper delivered on a friday. I have heard that they will do it for that price if you just ask.

I have taken 2 cars there for MOt and servicing and also know of others who have been. very good service

[Bigjenny]

Highly recommend the above Independent Testing Station. Just had my car tested, cost £44 and free retest within 14 days if it fails.

As they only do MOT's no rip off prices for repairs.

Address is
Harvest Drive Testing Station
1 & 3 Harvest Drive
South Lowestoft Ind Estate
Lowestoft
NR33 7NJ

Tel: 01502 515142

[kennoo]

Following advice on this site I searched Bedford council's website for MOT and they have an MOT Testing Station.I clicked the link on their site and made an online request.I was phoned the next morning by a very nice lady and booked in for when I requested.I arrived for my appointment,was allowed to wait in their office,the very nice lady made me a cup of coffee,(free of charge!)and within the hour left with a test pass certificate.The cost was £38,which is cheaper than the official cost.An absolute joy,thoroughly recommended.Thumbs up to DSD Contracting,part of Bedford Borough Council.

[Premier]

Originally Posted by moneypudden

Just a note for the benefit of those considering using the Coval Lane MoT centre in Chelmsford, Essex. The site has been closed down, for housing devlopment so i understand and its work outsourced to a local Ford dealership (at least that's what one of the testers told me before it closed).

The nearest centres now appear to be at Colchester and Loughton, so any recommendations for fair minded Mot operators in the Chelmsford area would be welcomed.



Thanks.

Roadstar MOT Centre, New Writtle Street.
Whilst I believe they are connected with a small tyre place on the other side of New London Road (located behind Kwik-Fit), I think the MOT centre runs as a self funding business unit (so expect to pay full price) but they don't carry out any repairs on the MOT site ... just MOT's.
I've heard good reviews about their MOT business...but don't expect any complimentary coffee or sky tv to watch; it's not that style of business. Car park may be muddy too this time of year.


Or try Dagenham Motors, the Ford dealer in Chelmer Village, next to Wickes (follow the Wickes entrance).
Bear with me on this one, I know it sounds unlikely but...
Dagenham Motors only has the Ford franchise in the area for large commercial vehicles (trucks), not passenger cars which belongs to Dovercourt (owned by Lookers) on the other side of the town. Therefore they only sell, service & repair commercial vehicles. However, their MOT facility also handles passenger cars, and presumably to make it pay for itself, welcome passenger cars for MOT only (about £35-£40, so discounted too!).
They have no interest in failing the care for any potential work as they can't/won't repair it there and know it's unlikely you would be prepared to travel the 40 miles to Dagenham to have it repaired (where they do have the franchise for passenger cars) and they obviously have no reason to give any work to their local rival & competitor, Dovercourt.


Edit: scratch that recommendation of Dagenham Motors - they now supply & fit tyres.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...html?t=2142187

[Premier]

I've just been speaking to my mate who informs me there is a huge VOSA MOT testing station in Hanbury Road, Chelmsford, behind Dovercourt Ford.

They also carry out Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) and Vehicle Identity Checks (VIC).

The reason it's huge is that it appears to be a goods vehicle testing station, but my mate said he thought they did cars too.
But he's never used them for MOTs. Anyone know what they are like?

http://www.iessex.co.uk/profile/2998...s-Agency-VOSA/

[patman99]

Colchester Borough Council have their MOT centre in Westside Business Park, London R$oad, Stanway.

I also use BKT Motors also in London Road, Stanway. These guys are really knowledgable and reasonably cheap.

[adriandilly]

The "Express Service" at Duff Morgan Citroen Dealer, Whiffler Road, Norwich does MOTs for £26.50. Very friendly service and you get free hot drinks while you wait in the sales centre! Have told many people and they haven't been anywhere else since!!!

[kierancooper]

I have no hesitation at all in recommending the Cambridge council depot. I've had my car tested there for 3 years now (thanks to MSE of course) and they've always been fantastic. This year it needed work which was going to be a logistical pain to organise. They offered to do it for me - including getting a tyre company to drive out to the depot and fit a new tyre because the test centre doesn't have the right equipment - and the cost was still much cheaper than other places (and the retest was free). They were also fabulous in accommodating my difficulties in getting a time to pick the car up.

All in all, I wouldn't take my car anywhere else for an MOT ever now!

[Kiko4564]

My dad uses F1 auto centres, norwich. He says they are honest as he hasn't found a problem they made up.

[CPJames19]

Originally Posted by kierancooper

I have no hesitation at all in recommending the Cambridge council depot. I've had my car tested there for 3 years now (thanks to MSE of course) and they've always been fantastic. This year it needed work which was going to be a logistical pain to organise. They offered to do it for me - including getting a tyre company to drive out to the depot and fit a new tyre because the test centre doesn't have the right equipment - and the cost was still much cheaper than other places (and the retest was free). They were also fabulous in accommodating my difficulties in getting a time to pick the car up.

All in all, I wouldn't take my car anywhere else for an MOT ever now!

I used Cambridge Counil Depot for an MOT last year. I was told they do car services too. I didn't know they could organise a tyre change though.