Not sure how this applies to yours? Get a quote for my motorhome import and we will tell you before you spend anything.
Which MOT class is a motorhome?
Class 4, or class 5 if it has 13 or more passenger seats. The DVSA MOT testing guide says motor caravans "are not classed as goods vehicles for MOT test purposes and are therefore in class 4 or 5 depending on their seating capacity but regardless of their size or weight". So a heavy American RV with a few seats goes to an ordinary class 4 test station, not to a lorry test.
The exception is a living van: a vehicle used to live in that also carries goods not needed for living in it. The guide puts living vans approved as N1 goods vehicles in class 4 or 7 by weight, and those approved as N2 or N3 (over 3,500kg) into lorry testing. A motorhome used as a motorhome is not a living van.
How much does a motorhome MOT cost?
At most £54.85. gov.uk's fee table lists motor caravans as class 4, first test at 3 years, maximum fee £54.85, and says you do not pay VAT on the fee. Test stations can charge less, not more. A motorhome with 9 to 12 passenger seats fitted with more seat belts than its construction requires may need class 4A, which adds a seat belt installation check, maximum £64.
Send us the details before you pay. We tell you what the import involves, then handle the customs, the NOVA and the DVLA paperwork.
When is the first MOT due?
By the third anniversary of its registration, then by the anniversary of its last MOT each year. gov.uk lets you take the test up to a month (minus a day) before the old certificate runs out and keep the same renewal date. Driving without a valid MOT can bring a fine of up to £1,000; the only journeys allowed without one are to a pre-arranged MOT or to and from a repair.
Is an old motorhome exempt from the MOT?
Yes, if it was built or first registered more than 40 years ago and no substantial changes have been made in the last 30 years. The Department for Transport guidance calls these "vehicles of historical interest". A substantial change means altering the chassis or frame, the bodyshell, the axles and running gear, or the engine outside the allowed exceptions (same-pattern replacements and original-equipment engines do not count).
You do not apply to stop having MOTs, but you declare the exemption when you tax the vehicle, on form V112. The guidance lists cases that still need an MOT, among them a vehicle with a "Q" registration and a reconstructed classic. If you cannot confirm the motorhome has not been substantially changed, you must not claim the exemption. Its condition is still your responsibility: gov.uk warns of a fine of up to £2,500 and 3 penalty points for using a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
Does an imported motorhome need an MOT before it is registered?
Yes, if it is over 3 years old. gov.uk lists "evidence of a current MOT if the vehicle is over 3 years old" among the documents DVLA needs to register a vehicle. A foreign roadworthiness test, such as the French contrôle technique or the German TÜV, does not replace it. The test can be done before the motorhome has UK plates: the MOT testing guide says a printed certificate must be issued when "the vehicle is not registered in the UK" or "is imported". You may drive the unregistered motorhome only to a test booked in advance, and it must be insured on its VIN or chassis number.
Does an MOT replace vehicle approval on a newer import?
No. The MOT testing guide tells testers that if a vehicle was first used abroad, the presenter should be told it "may need an Individual Vehicle Approval test (IVA), not an MOT test" before it can be registered. Under 10 years old, a motorhome normally needs proof of approval, usually its certificate of conformity, as well as the MOT if it is over 3. Our guide to the certificate of conformity for a motorhome explains when that is enough.
Does the MOT check the gas and the living area?
Only in part. The MOT inspection manual's fuel system check "applies to all fuel tanks which are permanently attached to vehicles, including gas fuel tanks and cylinders, bottles and other types of fuel container for auxiliary appliances including cookers", and a defective LPG system is a dangerous fail. gov.uk also says the test does not cover the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox. We found no official text saying the MOT tests the full habitation gas installation, the appliances, the water system or the 230V hook-up, so do not take a pass as proof that they are safe.
What we do for you
If you are importing a motorhome, send us the listing and the papers before you pay. We tell you whether it will need an MOT, approval or both before DVLA registration. We make the customs import declaration, work out and pay the VAT and duty, submit NOVA and prepare every DVLA form: you just sign and post. We do not carry out MOTs, tests or modifications. If you need it, we arrange the transport to the UK.
Quick answers
Is a motorhome MOT the same as a car MOT?
It is the same class 4 test at the same maximum fee of £54.85. A motorhome with 13 or more passenger seats goes to class 5 instead.
Does a motorhome over 3,500kg need an HGV test?
No, not if it is a motor caravan. The MOT testing guide puts motor caravans in class 4 or 5 regardless of size or weight. A living van approved as an N2 or N3 goods vehicle is the case that goes to lorry testing.
Can I take an imported motorhome for an MOT without UK plates?
Yes. Test stations must print a certificate for a vehicle that is imported or not registered in the UK. Drive it only to a test booked in advance and insure it on its VIN first.
Official sources, checked on 7 October 2026: gov.uk/guidance/mot-testing-guide/a-introduction; gov.uk/getting-an-mot/mot-test-fees; gov.uk/getting-an-mot; gov.uk/government/publications/historic-classic-vehicles-mot-exemption-criteria/historic-classic-vehicles-mot-exemption-criteria--2; gov.uk/historic-vehicles; gov.uk/vehicle-registration/new-registrations; gov.uk/guidance/mot-testing-guide/h-documentation; gov.uk/guidance/mot-testing-guide/appendix-3-grounds-for-refusal; gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk; gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/6-body-structure-and-attachments.