MOT for Campervans and Motorhomes: What's Tested and How to Prepare

The MOT is the annual health check your campervan or motorhome can't skip, but a lot of owners misunderstand what it actually covers. The MOT tests the van as a vehicle — its structure, brakes, lights and emissions — but it does not test the habitation area. Your gas, electrics, water and appliances are looked after by the separate habitation check instead.

When is a campervan MOT due?

Most campervans and motorhomes under 3.5 tonnes are tested as Class 4 vehicles: the first MOT is due three years after first registration, then every year after that. Heavier motorhomes may fall into a different class, so check your V5C if your van is close to or over 3.5 tonnes. The MOT test fee for a Class 4 vehicle is capped at £54.85.

What the MOT tests

• Structure and body security, including corrosion in key areas.
• Brakes: condition, performance and the handbrake.
• Steering, suspension and wheel bearings.
• Lights, indicators, horn, wipers, washers and mirrors.
• Tyres, including tread depth and condition.
• Seatbelts and their anchorages.
• Exhaust emissions and that the exhaust isn't excessively noisy or leaking.

A campervan conversion is tested exactly like the base van, so the habitation layout doesn't alter what's checked. That said, a badly fitted conversion that leaves wiring exposed or blocks a safety component can cause a failure.

What the MOT doesn't test

The living area is off the MOT's radar. A gas leak, an untripping RCD or a wet damp reading won't fail your MOT — but they can fail you and your family at 2am. That's why the annual habitation check matters just as much as the MOT.

How to prepare

A quick pre-test run-through catches most common failures:

1. Check all lights, including fog light, indicators and the number plate lamp.
2. Top up screenwash and check wiper blades clear the screen.
3. Confirm the horn works.
4. Look at tyre tread and pressure, including the spare if it's carried.
5. Check the brake fluid is between the marks on the reservoir.
6. Clear the cab of clutter that blocks mirrors or the driver's view.
7. Test the handbrake holds the van firmly on an incline.

Tip: book a "first-time pass" MOT at a garage you trust rather than a cheap online deal — if something fails, a good tester will explain it and can often fix it on the spot.

A fresh MOT is the minimum any buyer expects. Vans with an MOT plus a habitation certificate and service history sell fastest and for the most money — see the difference on motorhomes for sale.