Class 7 MOT: Vans from 3,000kg to 3,500kg and Electric Vans to 4,250kg

Which vans are class 7

Class 7 applies to petrol, diesel and hybrid goods vehicles with a design gross weight over 3,000kg and up to 3,500kg. The maximum fee for a class 7 test is £58.60. This band sits above the class 4 threshold and covers the heavier end of the light goods vehicle range.

Goods vehicles with a design gross weight up to 3,000kg fall into class 4, not class 7. The maximum fee for a class 4 test is £54.85. The dividing line between the two classes is therefore 3,000kg design gross weight, with vehicles at or below that figure tested as class 4.

The class 7 band is defined by design gross weight rather than by the vehicle's unladen weight or its load on the day of testing. A goods vehicle over 3,000kg and up to 3,500kg design gross weight is class 7 whether it runs on petrol, diesel or hybrid power. Vehicles above 3,500kg design gross weight fall outside this band.

Electric vans up to 4,250kg

Zero-emission goods vehicles from 3,501kg to 4,250kg are also class 7. They carry the same £58.60 maximum fee as other class 7 vehicles. These electric vans take an MOT instead of the HGV annual test, so the lighter testing regime applies to them despite their weight.

The zero-emission rule extends class 7 testing above the usual 3,500kg boundary. A goods vehicle in this range qualifies through its zero-emission status rather than its weight alone. The £58.60 maximum applies to these vehicles in the same way as to the rest of the class.

Electric goods vehicles registered before 1 March 2015 are exempt from the MOT. This exemption sits alongside the class 7 arrangements for zero-emission vans up to 4,250kg.

Above 3,500kg

Goods vehicles powered by petrol, diesel or hybrid systems that exceed 3,500kg fall outside the Class 7 MOT regime. Instead, these heavier vehicles must take the annual test, which is sometimes referred to as the HGV MOT. This test applies to the vehicle as a whole and covers the roadworthiness and safety standards required for larger goods vehicles operating on UK roads.

The annual test for these vehicles is a separate requirement from the MOT that applies to lighter vans. Once a petrol, diesel or hybrid goods vehicle passes the 3,500kg threshold, the annual test becomes the applicable inspection. Operators of such vehicles need to ensure the correct test is arranged, as the Class 7 MOT does not cover vehicles above this weight limit.

This distinction matters for fleet and vehicle management. A goods vehicle over 3,500kg with a petrol, diesel or hybrid engine is tested under the annual test rather than the MOT. The weight and fuel type together determine which inspection applies. Vehicles at or below 3,500kg are covered elsewhere in this guide, while those above follow the annual test route described here.

Timing and history

The first MOT for a Class 7 van is due by the third anniversary of its registration. This applies to vans from 3,000kg to 3,500kg and to electric vans up to 4,250kg. The date is set from the point of registration rather than from the date of purchase or first use on the road, so a van registered before it is driven still follows the same three year rule.

MOT history for vans is recorded on the GOV.UK MOT history service. Records are available from 2005 onwards. This means a van first tested before 2005 may have earlier results that do not appear on the service. For vehicles tested from 2005, the service shows past test outcomes, including passes and failures, along with the recorded mileage at each test.

The MOT history service is a useful reference when checking a van's test record. It draws on results held for tests carried out from 2005, so the picture it gives depends on when the van was first tested. A van registered after 2005 will have its full test history listed, while an older vehicle may show only the tests conducted from that year onwards. The first test date remains tied to the third anniversary of registration.

Frequently asked questions

What vehicles fall under Class 7 MOT?

Class 7 covers petrol, diesel and hybrid goods vehicles over 3,000kg and up to 3,500kg design gross weight. The maximum fee is £58.60. Goods vehicles up to 3,000kg design gross weight are class 4, with a maximum fee of £54.85.

Do electric vans between 3,501kg and 4,250kg need a Class 7 MOT?

Yes. Zero-emission goods vehicles from 3,501kg to 4,250kg are also class 7 at the same £58.60 maximum fee. These vehicles take an MOT instead of the HGV annual test.

Are any electric goods vehicles exempt from the MOT?

Electric goods vehicles registered before 1 March 2015 are exempt from the MOT. Other zero-emission goods vehicles from 3,501kg to 4,250kg fall into class 7 and take an MOT rather than the HGV annual test.

What happens with heavier diesel or hybrid goods vehicles?

Petrol, diesel and hybrid goods vehicles over 3,500kg take the annual test, sometimes called the HGV MOT, instead of an MOT. Class 7 applies only to petrol, diesel and hybrid goods vehicles over 3,000kg and up to 3,500kg design gross weight.

When is the first MOT due and where are results recorded?

The first MOT is due by the third anniversary of registration. MOT results for vans are on the GOV.UK MOT history service from 2005.