This article contains information on booking an MOT or a service in the PayByPhone App.
Contents
Booking an MOT or a Service in the PayByPhone App
What countries does PayByPhone offer MOT and Service booking in?
When will MOT and Service bookings be available on the mobile web platform?
How does booking a Service work?
What happens if my car requires work or repairs as part of my MOT test or service?
Can I search for a specific garage?
Why is the MOT or Service price different in the PayByPhone app to what the garage advertises?
When and how do I pay for my vehicle’s service?
Why do I need to pay a deposit to book a service?
What garages are available in the PayByPhone app?
Can I cancel or reschedule my booking?
Do you offer MOTs for Class 7 vehicles?
How can I check my vehicle's MOT due date?.
How does PayByPhone know my MOT expiry date?
Can I book an MOT & Service together?
Why book and MOT & Service together?
What does servicing a car include?
How often should I get my car serviced?
How long does a full service take?
What's the difference between a car service and MOT?
How far in advance should I book my MOT Test?
What documents do I need to bring to the MOT Test?
How much does an MOT Test cost?
What happens after the MOT test?
What if my MOT certificate has expired?
What is the penalty for driving without an MOT?
How long does an MOT test take?
If my car fails its MOT test, how much will the MOT re-test be?
How can I check a vehicle's MOT history?
Booking an MOT or a Service in the PayByPhone App
What countries does PayByPhone offer MOT and service booking in?
Currently, you can book your MOT and Service in the UK through our app.
When will MOT and Service bookings be available on the mobile web platform?
We’re working on it! Stay tuned for updates on when mobile web support will be available for MOT and Service bookings.
How can I get a receipt?
Receipts are available in the app. Go to the 'My account' menu in the app and then select ‘Charging & maintenance receipts’. Your MOT & Service booking and any additional work transactions will be listed, you can click on a transaction to open the receipt.
How does booking an MOT work?
1. Open the 'My cars' page using the menu bar in the app.
2. Select the vehicle you want to book for an MOT. View the date that the MOT test is due for that vehicle, then click ‘Book now’.
3. Search for the most convenient garage using the map or search by entering a location.
4. Tap on a garage from the map pin, or use the list for more information and select your MOT dates.
5. Select three dates that work for you, and we’ll send all three to the garage so they can pick the date that fits. The drop off time for these dates is before 9am, the garage is expecting you to leave your vehicle while they carry out the work.
6. Enter your name, email address and phone number - Make sure you’re contactable using this number on the day of your test. These details will not be saved to your PayByPhone account and will only be used for this MOT booking.
7. Confirm your details and validate your payment method. You will be charged 48 hours before the booking date, but we need to verify the payment, and you might be asked to validate this with your bank.
8. We will send your MOT request to your chosen garage. They will usually respond by the next working day to confirm your booking. If none of your dates fit, they will send back an alternative option.
9. When the garage confirms your booking, you’ll receive an email. You can also refer to the booking status on the 'My cars' page within the app.
10. We will process the payment 48 hours before the MOT date. If we have any issues with payment, we will email you to re-enter your payment details. If we cannot successfully process your payment within 24 hours, we will cancel your booking.
11. On the day of your test, find your check-in pass in the app by clicking on your booking in the 'My cars' section.
How does booking a Service work?
1. Open the 'My cars' page using the menu bar in the app.
2. Select the vehicle you want to book for a Service and tap the Book Service button.
3. Search for the most convenient garage using the map or search by entering a location.
4. Tap on a garage from the map pin, or, use the list for more information and select dates you want to book your service in.
5. Select three dates that work for you, and we’ll send all three to the garage so they can pick the date that fits. The drop off time for these dates is before 9am, the garage is expecting you to leave your vehicle while they carry out the work.
6. Enter your name, email address and phone number - Make sure you’re contactable using this number on the day of your test. These details will not be saved to your PayByPhone account and will only be used for this service booking.
8. Confirm your details and validate your payment method. You will be charged a £25 deposit to hold your slot. This payment is processed 48 hours before the booking date, but we need to verify the payment, and you might be asked to validate this with your bank.
9. We will send your Service booking request to your chosen garage. They will usually respond by the next working day to confirm your booking. If none of your dates fit, they will send back an alternative option.
10. When the garage confirms your booking, you’ll receive an email. You can also refer to the booking status on the 'My cars' page within the app.
11. 48 hours before the service date we will process the £25 deposit payment. If we have any issues with payment, we will email you to re-enter your payment details. If we cannot successfully process your payment within 24 hours, then we will cancel your booking.
12. On the day of your booking, find your check-in pass in the app by clicking on your booking in the 'My cars' section.
13. The garage will inspect your vehicle and see what type of service is due. This is dependent on the age, mileage and when the last service was carried out. They will send a report of the service they will carry out to our team of specialists.
As part of this process, we also check you are paying the right price. We do this through our partnership with 1link, a trusted vehicle repair software for fleet operators, that reviews the extra work against automotive industry data to validate the work requested by the garage.
14. Our specialists will check the work report and then send you the cost in the app. We’ll let you know about this by email, but to avoid delays, we’ll call you if you haven’t responded within 45 minutes and ask you to approve the work in the app.
15. When you go to approve work in the app, you'll see the cost for service plus the main work that will be carried out. Press the approve button and then you can pay on the next screen using your stored payment method.
Your deposit payment will be taken off the cost of the service. If you decline the work, then we will refund the deposit back to you.
16. Once you have approved the work, we’ll relay that to the garage, and they can get started. If you have declined it, the garage will let you know when to collect your vehicle.
What happens if my car requires work or repairs as part of my MOT test or service?
1. If your car needs any additional work, the garage will send the details to you in the app to approve and pay.
As part of this process, we also check you are paying the right price. We do this through our partnership with 1link, a trusted vehicle repair software for fleet operators, that reviews the extra work against automotive industry data to validate the work requested by the garage.
2. We’ll let you know about this by email, but to avoid delays, we will call you if you haven’t responded within 45 minutes and ask you to approve the work in the app.
3. When you to approve work in the app, you'll see two sections. One for mandatory repairs and one for advisories.
You will need to approve the work in the top section unless you want to take your vehicle elsewhere for the repairs to be carried out.
You can choose to add individual items in the bottom advisories section. Once you have chosen what repairs to approve, you can pay for the additional work.
4. If you don’t want the work carried out, decline in the app and add your reason to help the garage decide how to proceed.
5. Once you have approved the work, we’ll relay that to the garage, and they will get started. If you have declined it, the garage will let you know when to collect your vehicle.
6. Once your vehicle is ready, the garage will call you to collect it
Can I search for a specific garage?
You can currently search the map by street address or point of interest, rather than searching by name.
Who are 1link?
PayByPhone has integrated with a vehicle maintenance management system called 1link Service Network. We work with 1link to bring this service to consumers via PayByPhone. 1link are well known by the garages available on PayByPhone for fleet maintenance.
Why is the MOT or Service price different in the PayByPhone app to what the garage advertises?
PayByPhone, in partnership with 1link, has agreed rates with garages for MOT bookings and servicing which is why the rates may be different from what the garage advertises to people who book directly.
When and how do I pay for my vehicle’s service?
PayByPhone does not know the total price of the service until the garage has seen your vehicle. PayByPhone provides you with a range of what your service could cost up front in the app. We then take a £25 deposit to secure the booking with the garage. When the garage inspects your vehicle, they will look at the age, mileage and the date of the last service and provide you with the cost for the service in the app to approve before work starts.
As part of this process, we also check you are paying the right price. We do this through our partnership with 1link, a trusted vehicle repair software for fleet operators, that reviews the extra work against automotive industry data to validate the work requested by the garage.
We’ll let you know about this by email, but to avoid delays, we’ll call you if you haven’t responded within 45 minutes and ask you to approve the work in the app.
The £25 deposit is then taken off the final cost of the service when you approve the work in the app.
Why do I need to pay a deposit to book a service?
The deposit secures your booking with the garage. We will take the deposit off the total price of your service on the day of your booking.
What garages are available in the PayByPhone app?
The PayByPhone app includes thousands of garages, including all major car franchises, such as Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, and Ford, and other major garage networks, like Halfords and ATS.
Can I cancel or reschedule my booking?
Yes! Go to the 'My cars' page in the app. Find your booking and then select Cancel. You’ll get an email to confirm this and if you’ve already paid and meet the terms and conditions, you will be refunded within 5-7 working days. You can cancel for free up to 2 hours before your booking time. If you cancel after this time, it will incur a no-show fee of £25.
To reschedule, cancel your current booking and make a new appointment with a different date.
Do you offer MOTs for Class 7 vehicles?
We only offer MOT tests for Class 4 vehicles. This includes most cars or vehicles with up to 8 passenger seats such as taxis, private hire cars, ambulances, motorhomes, campervans, most vans and smaller commercial vehicles with a weight of up to 3,000 kg.
How can I check my vehicle's MOT due date?
Go to the 'My cars' page and it will show your MOT due date for each vehicle on your account. You can book at any time, just remember to make the booking date within 4 weeks of your MOT expiry to keep the MOT anniversary date.
How does PayByPhone know my MOT expiry date?
We use the DVLA to look up your vehicle details after they are added to the app. One piece of information that comes back from the DVLA is the MOT expiry date and we use that to send you a reminder 8 weeks before it is due to expire and again at 4 weeks if you haven’t booked an MOT with us yet.
Can I book an MOT & Service together?
You can very soon. An MOT & service bundle will be coming a few weeks after we launch servicing.
Why book an MOT & Service together?
Booking an MOT and a Service together makes it much less likely that you’ll forget either of them. The MOT and Service will be carried out during the same appointment, which means you’ll only have to make one trip, not two.
FAQs about a vehicle service
What does servicing a car include?
This depends on the age, mileage of your vehicle and the service you had done last time. It can differ for each model of vehicle and is dependent on what the manufacturer recommends. A service usually includes vehicle checks on both the floor and the ramp, as well as common service tasks such as replacing the engine oil.
When the garage inspects your vehicle, they will send through an inclusive list of services such as what filters are being changed, an oil change or brake fluid change.
How often should I get my car serviced?
We recommend that a Full Service is completed every 12,000 miles or every 12 months and an Interim Service is completed every 6,000 miles or every 6 months.
How long does a full service take?
It depends on the garage and what type of service is carried out, typically a full service could take around 3-4 hours with an interim service taking around 1-2 hours.
FAQs about an MOT test
What is an MOT Test?
The MOT Test (Ministry of Transport Test) is an annual vehicle safety, roadworthiness, and exhaust emissions test required in the UK for most vehicles over three years old.
What's the difference between a car service and MOT?
A service focuses on maintenance, preventing breakdowns and is a comprehensive check of various components. At the same time, an MOT is an inspection that makes sure your vehicle meets legal safety and environmental standards.
How far in advance should I book my MOT Test?
PayByPhone will send you a reminder eight weeks before it is due to expire and again at four weeks if you haven’t booked an MOT with us yet. We recommend you book your test earlier to get the best availability. You can present your vehicle for the MOT test 30 days before the expiry of your MOT, if you book it any earlier then you lose the MOT expiry anniversary.
What documents do I need to bring to the MOT Test?
You don't need to bring any documents to your MOT test. Garages can get all the information they need from the DVLA. Remember to show your check-in pass in the app to the garage when you drop your car off.
How much does an MOT Test cost?
The UK government sets the maximum fee for an MOT test. This is currently £54.85 but many garages charge less. PayByPhone, in partnership with 1link, has agreed rates with garages for MOT bookings which is why the rates may be different from what the garage advertises to people who book directly, so check different garages to compare the prices.
What happens after the MOT test?
If your vehicle passes the MOT, you’ll get an MOT certificate and advisory notes for any future issues. If it fails, you get a refusal certificate listing the repairs you must get before a retest.m
What if my MOT certificate has expired?
Driving without a valid MOT certificate is illegal. If your certificate has expired, you must book and pass an MOT test before driving your vehicle on public roads. You can drive to a pre-booked MOT test or a garage for repairs following a failed MOT. But you need to be able to prove that these bookings exist.
What is the penalty for driving without an MOT?
Driving without a valid MOT certificate can result in significant penalties in the UK:
1. Fines: You can be fined up to £1,000.
2. Insurance Issues: Your vehicle insurance may be invalidated, which means you might not be covered in the event of an accident.
3. Prosecution: You can be prosecuted if caught driving a vehicle without a valid MOT. You can drive to a pre-booked MOT test or a garage for repairs following a failed MOT. But you need to be able to prove that these bookings exist
4. Road Tax: You cannot renew your road tax without a valid MOT.
How long does an MOT test take?
An MOT test usually takes around 45-60 minutes. However, if your vehicle needs any repairs, it may take longer.
If my car fails its MOT test, how much will the MOT re-test be?
The cost of an MOT re-test can vary based on where and when you have it done. Here’s a quick rundown:
1. If the repairs are carried out at the same testing station that conducted the original MOT test, many stations offer a free partial re-test if it's done within 10 working days.
2. If you take your vehicle away for repairs and return it to the same testing station within 10 working days, some testing stations may charge a reduced fee for the re-test.
3. If you return your vehicle for a re-test after more than 10 working days, you may be charged for a full MOT test, which could be up to the maximum fee of £54.85 for a car.
It's best to check with the specific MOT testing station for their re-test rules and fees.
How can I check a vehicle's MOT history?
MOT history is coming soon to the PayByPhone app, but you can view the history on the government’s vehicle enquiry website here.
How early can I book my MOT?
You can book your MOT up to a month before it expires. We send reminders 8 weeks before it is due to expire and again at 4 weeks if you haven’t booked an MOT with us yet. We suggest you book as early as possible. Garages get booked up fast, and it can take a few weeks to get the appointment you want.