A mechanic standing inside a garage.A picture of mechanic standing in an approved garage
Service, Repairs & MOT

Book an MOT in Chichester

Book an MOT at a local RAC Approved Garage.

  • Trusted mechanics
  • Honest pricing
  • Great customer service

Why choose the RAC for your MOT in Chichester?

At the RAC, we’ve got over 125 years’ experience in helping UK drivers. We offer MOTs from RAC Approved Garages to make sure you’re getting an honest, reliable inspection at a fair price. Our trusted mechanics will make sure your vehicle is operating safely and effectively. You’ll get results you can rely on, at a price you can afford.

We also offer a full and interim car service in Chichester.

Close up of an RAC Mobile Mechanic underneath a car

MOT

An MOT test checks if your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards. Cars over 3 years old must pass an MOT test every year.

Check lights, indicators, and reflectors.
Test brakes and examine tyre condition.
Inspect for wear and proper operation.
Measure emissions and check the exhaust system.
Check mirrors, windscreen, wipers, and washers.
RAC Mobile Mechanic under the wheel arch of a white car

Full service

Get your car MOT-ready. Book a service with an RAC Mobile Mechanic. We’ll make sure your car’s safe and working correctly. Depending on your vehicle, it can take up to an hour and a half, but not to worry – we come to you. We recommend getting serviced every 12 months or 12,000 miles.

Before and after the service, we’ll run a general road test to detect if anything feels or sounds unusual and to make sure there aren’t any new problems.
- Battery and charging system check – Cooling system check – Engine oil and filter change – Fuel filter check – Air filter replacement – Power steering fluid top-up
– Steering and suspension – Wheels and tyres – Brakes – Front and rear lights – Exhaust – Mechanical parts – Wipers – Wiper fluid top up
– Horn – Seatbelts – Seatbelt mounts
We’ll plug into your onboard engine management systems using our specialist diagnostic computer. We’ll then run a full engine management system check, looking for electrical issues and any problems flagged up by the electric control units on the engine, the power steering, transmission, sensors and more.

And it’s not just MOTs that we do in Chichester

Repairs
Whatever you need, we’ve got a repairs service you can rely on. Looking to get your brake pads and discs fixed at home? RAC Mobile Mechanics come to you. Need more in-depth work done at a garage? Choose an RAC Approved Garage to get quality work at honest prices.

Car Service
MOT coming up? Not to worry. Get ready with a full service from RAC Mobile Mechanics. We come to you at work or home, so you can relax as we service your car in your driveway. We recommend getting serviced once a year, or every 12,000 miles.

RAC Mobile Mechanic adding oil to a car

Nearby RAC Approved Garages

Rowledge Garage

5.0/5

sed in Rowledge Surrey, Rowledge Garage provides a quality, reliable motor engineering service covering all garage operations from MOTs to car servicing and auto diagnostics. The garage offers free vehicle pick up and drop off to customers for your convenience, plus competitive pricing with a personal service.
5 The Square, Rowledge, Farnham, GU104AA

Southcoast Automotive Services ltd

4.9/5

Friendly, Local Family Run Garage We are your friendly, local family run car garages in Hampshire, dedicated to providing you with a comprehensive range of automotive services tailored for your specific requirements. From car servicing and maintenance to engine diagnostics and car repairs in, Botley, Hedge End and the surrounding areas we are the company to call. All work undertaken is completed to the highest of standards by trained and experienced auto specialists. We are dedicated to providing a superb range of garage services to meet all your private vehicle and small business needs, including performance and kit cars - please call for details.
Unit C, Mereworth Ind. Estate, Shamblehurst Lane North, Southampton, SO322BY

Swanmore Car Repair Centre

4.8/5

Swanmore Car Repair Centre is an independent repair garage established in 2008. We offer a wide range of services and commend ourselves by providing the best quality and efficiency on every single job we undertake. Our clean, modern and well-equipt premises allow us to welcome any repair and rectify it. We cover anything from a simple service, right through to a full engine rebuild. On-site we have a vast range of different diagnostics equipment from a range of leading suppliers. We can facilitate diagnostics to complete vehicle reprogramming depending on individual need. We can accommodate all vehicle make's and models and are happy to be able to provide you with a reputable dealer level of service, all for the price of an independent garage. Our team specialise in Clutch, Cambelt and Brake repairs and are proud to be rated a national top performer. We are members of the approved garage network This ensures you have peace of mind and confidence when repairing with us. All of our team here at Swanmore Car Repair Centre are fully qualified and trained to the highest standard. We strive in making sure we deliver professional work with results, always put the customer's needs first. Customer satisfaction is essential on each and every job, no matter how big or small. We are very pleased to be able to provide both a collection and delivery service within 10 miles, or a courtesy car subject to availability. Of course, however, you may just prefer to wait in our comfortable waiting room, with free Wi-Fi and refreshments on offer.
Unit 7 Swanmore Business Centre, Lower Chase Road, Swanmore, Southampton, SO32 2PB

Ian Bright Motor Engineer

4.7/5

Ian Bright Motor Engineers is a friendly independent garage situated in a beautiful countryside location in Halnaker, Chichester. Established since 2013, our small team are dedicated to delivering you the highest levels of customer service. Our workshop is fully equipped and we cater for all makes and models of vehicles, offering our customers a comprehensive range of repairs, maintenance work, servicing and MOT’s. Owner Ian has over 47 years of experience, having started his 5 year City & Guilds apprenticeship back in the 70’s. City and Guilds qualifications are a lot more intense and labour intensive compared to the more modern qualifications available to mechanics nowadays, and we were taught how to fix and repair parts as opposed to simply replacing them, which is standard practice in most places today. I have experience working with older classic cars, alongside newer more modern ones too, and no job is too big or too small for us to take on! Most of my customers have been with me for years and know that by choosing my company to undertake works on their pride and joy, they will receive fantastic workmanship alongside a personalised service. We would never advise you doing anything to your vehicle which was unnecessary as some garages do purely for profit, priding ourselves on our honest core values. My son, who was trained in-house alongside me, has branched out into classic and vintage race cars and is fast gaining a fantastic reputation for his first-class trimming, and my eldest grandson Lewis is now working with me and is undergoing his apprenticeship too. Three more grandsons are also looking to come on board and keep this garage running with a strong family presence.
Unit 2 The Workshops, Thicket Lane, Halnaker, PO180QS

Shirley Car Care Centre Ltd

4.6/5

Based in Shirley, we are a family run company and give 100% customer satisfaction for all your vehicle needs. We specialise is Clutches, Semi-automatic gearboxes, Servicing, Mots, Welding, Air conditioning, Vehicle diagnostics and much more. Find us on Facebook for reviews and don't forget to like our page!
1 Vincents Grove, Southampton, SO155HW

LMC Auto Services Ltd

4.0/5

Our owner Lee Cripps set up LMC Auto Services in 2001 with just £150 and a Ford Escort van, and we have been serving customers in Pulborough and the wider community ever since! The business grew quickly and the garage opened in 2005. We now have a team of six dedicated, loyal and highly qualified employees who work on approximately 300 cars a month. From the outset Lee wanted to provide an honest and reliable service, ensuring that excellent customer service was given at all times – something that continues to be extremely important to all members of the team to this day. Since opening we have worked hard to build a reputation of offering value for money to the Pulborough community and the large amount of repeat custom we receive is testament to this. We are Members of: Checkatrade.com The good garage scheme Trading standards buy with confidence RMI Trust my garage RAC Approved garage
7 And 8 Station Approach, Pulborough, RH201AQ

A J Robertson LTD

3.8/5

A J Robertson LTD
1-8 Albert Mews, Hove, BN32PP

JW Autos and Mechanical Services Ltd

3.7/5

* PLEASE NOTE: WE DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE SO DO NOT TAKE BOOKINGS FROM HERE. PLEASE CALL US DIRECTLY. We are an independent family run business set in rural Winchester. We like to work with our customers on a personal basis so if you would like to book your car in please call us direct on and we will be happy to help you. kind regards James
Stockbridge Rd, Winchester, SO212NA

Hilsea Tyres

3.5/5

At Hilsea Tyres, we provide you with specialised advice and solutions for all garage services. We supply and fit new and part worn tyres, at competitive prices, in Portsmouth and it’s surrounding areas. With over 15 years experience we pride ourselves on our commitment to outstanding tyre fitting services. Whether it’s a single replacement or full-set, our services cater to a wide range of needs, so we can get your car up and running as quick as possible. As true specialists in the motor industry, our services don’t just stop at expertly fitted tyres. We also offer and perform an extensive set of mechanical and car maintenance services within our Portsmouth based auto centre.
Unit 21 Gunners Buildings, Limberline Road, PO3 5BJ

Thwaites Mot & Service Centre Ltd

3.1/5

Thwaites Mot & Service Centre Ltd is a family-run independent garage, situated in a new purpose built workshop in Portslade. Now offering state of the art technology to service, fault-find and maintain your New Mini. Thwaites Mot & Service Centre have been servicing the Motor Industry for 15 over years, just outside Brighton City Centre, we are also members of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (Independent Garage Association), subscribing to their quality control programme & abiding by their codes of practice. We service, repair & carry out M.O.T Testing on motorcycles and motor vehicles, which can be arranged either by telephone appointment or can be booked online. Courtesy cars are available for local use when available, our retail range includes tyres, batteries, exhaust systems, brakes and a full range of parts for a wide range of vehicles, with parts deliveries made to our workshops several times a day.
Unit 1 William Street Trading Estate, William Street, Portslade, BN41 1PZ

MOT FAQs

An MOT lasts for a year. The date it runs out is shown on your most recent MOT pass certificate. You can book an MOT near you up to one month (minus a day) before the due date and still keep the same renewal date.

For example: if your MOT runs out on 16 September, the earliest you can MOT your car and keep the same renewal date next year is 17 August. You can book an MOT earlier than this. But if you do, the renewal date will change to one year (minus a day) from the date your vehicle passed this MOT.

To find out when your MOT is and how early you can book it, use the GOV.UK tool.

A car needs an MOT every year once it’s three years old (four years in Northern Ireland). Then it needs to be retested every year on the anniversary of its last MOT. Cars under three years old don’t need an MOT.

Once you’ve passed, you’ll get an MOT test certificate showing the date of the test and the expiry date. You can get your car retested up to a month (minus a day) before it expires and keep the original renewal date.

If your MOT is due, get a quote from an RAC Approved Garage near you and book your MOT online today.

If your car fails its MOT:

You’ll get a Refusal of MOT Certificate (VT30). You can only drive away if your current MOT certificate is still valid and no ‘dangerous’ faults were listed in the MOT. You will need to have your car repaired and retested.

Your Refusal of MOT Certificate will explain why your car failed its MOT test and explain what needs to be fixed for it to pass. Ask your local garage whether you need a full or partial MOT retest, as how much you pay will depend on the state of your vehicle.

If you get your car tested, repaired and retested at the same test centre within 10 working days, you usually won’t have to pay an MOT retest fee. Sometimes there will be a partial retest fee to pay. Just ask your garage for more information.

If you drive a car that’s failed its MOT because of a ‘dangerous’ fault, you can be fined up to £2,500. You can also be banned from driving and get three points on your licence.

To avoid failing your MOT test, maintain the condition of your car in between MOTs by booking a car service.