Struggling to find a garage in Cardiff that will take your motorhome for its MOT? A lot of test centres turn larger vehicles away because their bay or ramp is too small. At CF3 MOT & Service Centre in Rumney, we test motorhomes and campervans — and because any repairs needed to pass are done here in the same workshop, a fail does not send you chasing round a second garage.
This page covers the questions motorhome owners actually ask:
Does my motorhome need an MOT, and when?
Yes. A motorhome needs its first MOT three years after it was first registered, then once every year after that — the same rule that applies to cars. The date sits on your V5C logbook and on the online MOT history, and driving without a valid certificate is an offence unless you are travelling to a pre-booked test.
Because most people only use a motorhome for part of the year, the test often slips the mind over winter. Book before the touring season starts — not the week you want to leave — so there is time to sort any repairs first.
What MOT class is a motorhome?
Class 4, whatever it weighs. A motor caravan is not a goods vehicle for MOT purposes, so the weight thresholds that sort vans into classes do not apply to it. Section 2.3 of the DVSA MOT Testing Guide places motor caravans in class 4 or 5 by seating capacity, regardless of size or weight. Class 5 applies only where there are 13 or more passenger seats, which is rare.
What weight does decide is whether a garage can physically take the vehicle. Our bay handles motorhomes up to 3,500kg. Send us the registration along with the overall height and length and we will confirm before you book.
Almost every motorhome, from a campervan to a seven tonne coachbuilt. The same test class as a car.
The weight we can physically take at Rumney. Still a Class 4 MOT.
Still a Class 4 MOT, just at a station equipped for the weight. The class does not change, only the equipment does.
The figure that decides it is the design gross weight in box J of your V5C, not the model name. Give us your registration and we will confirm the class before you book.
Can you MOT a motorhome over 3,500kg?
Not at Rumney, and the reason is equipment rather than classification. A motorhome over 3,500kg still takes a Class 4 MOT, because weight does not move a motor caravan out of the MOT system. What it does change is which bays can physically take it, and ours is rated to 3,500kg. Tell us the weight and we will point you towards a Class 4 station set up for it rather than waste your trip.
Will my motorhome actually fit in your bay?
This is the real reason owners get turned away, so it is worth checking first. Motorhomes vary a lot in length, height and weight, and not every ramp can take them. The simplest way to avoid a wasted journey is to call ahead with your registration and rough dimensions, and we will confirm we can take yours before you drive over from St Mellons, Rumney or wherever you are based.
Before you travel
Call ahead with your registration and rough dimensions — length, height and weight — and we will confirm we can take yours before you make the trip.
Call 07400 454839 →
What is checked on a motorhome MOT?
The MOT checks the same safety and roadworthiness items as a car test, scaled to the vehicle. The tester looks at:
The MOT does not cover the living area. The test is about the vehicle being safe to drive, so the habitation side — gas, electrics and the water system — is a separate check. We look after the mechanical side of your motorhome. You can read more on our motorhome repairs and servicing page.
What happens if my motorhome fails its MOT?
Because we are a repair workshop as well as a test centre, a fail is not the headache it is elsewhere. We explain exactly what failed, give you a price before any work starts, and carry out the MOT repairs here, from brakes and welding to lights and suspension, then get the vehicle straight back in for retest. For most fails there is no second garage and no second trip.
Campervans and converted vans
A professionally converted campervan recorded as a motor caravan on the V5C is usually tested as a Class 4, provided it is within the weight for that class. If your van has been converted but not reclassified, the weight still decides the class. Send us the registration and we will tell you which test applies and whether we can carry it out.
Booking your motorhome MOT in Cardiff
We are based at Unit 4C, Wentloog Buildings, Wentloog Road, Rumney, a couple of minutes off the A48, and we look after owners across Rumney, Llanrumney, St Mellons and the wider Cardiff area. Evening appointments are available through the week, which helps if you can only move the motorhome after work. If you want to avoid a surprise on the day, book a pre-MOT check first so any likely fail points are dealt with before the clock starts.
Motorhome MOT questions.
How much does a motorhome MOT cost?
The DVSA sets a maximum MOT fee by class, and we often charge under it. Give us your registration and we will confirm the exact price for your vehicle before you book.
How long does a motorhome MOT take?
The test itself is similar in length to a car MOT, but allow extra time if repairs are needed. If anything fails, having the work done here means we can usually retest the same week rather than sending you elsewhere.
Do you check the habitation area during the MOT?
No. The MOT covers the vehicle's roadworthiness, not the living area. Gas, electrics and water are a separate habitation check, though we handle the mechanical servicing and repairs your motorhome needs.
My motorhome is over 3,500kg. Can you test it?
Not at our site. It is still a Class 4 MOT, because weight does not change the class of a motor caravan, but our bay is rated to 3,500kg. Tell us the weight and we will point you to a Class 4 station equipped for it.
Can you MOT my campervan in Cardiff?
Yes, in most cases. A converted campervan registered as a motor caravan is usually a Class 4 test if it is within the weight limit. Send us the registration and we will confirm.
Book your motorhome MOT.
Call 07400 454839 or book online, tell us the registration and rough size, and we will confirm the class and that we can take yours. See the full MOT and testing range too.
Related work and guidance
The jobs that usually come in alongside this one, plus the guides our technicians in Rumney point Cardiff drivers to.