Questions drivers ask us

Modern Motors Ltd is at 95 Adelaide Rd, London NW3 3XX, in the London Borough of Camden. Adelaide Road runs between Chalk Farm and Swiss Cottage, and the garage is a few minutes’ walk from Chalk Farm station on the Northern line. Use the map on our contact page for directions.

We are open Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 18:00, and closed on Sundays. For Saturdays and bank holidays, please call 020 7586 3580 before you come. Our contact page shows live opening times, so you can see at a glance whether we are open right now.

Our garage is in NW3, and most customers come from across the London Borough of Camden: Belsize Park, Chalk Farm, Primrose Hill, Swiss Cottage, Hampstead, Camden Town, Kentish Town and Gospel Oak, covering the NW1, NW3 and NW5 postcodes. Drivers from further afield are always welcome too.

Modern Motors Limited was incorporated in July 1985 and is registered at Companies House under company number 01931885. Today we are an independent garage at 95 Adelaide Rd, NW3, rated 4.8 out of 5 by 50 drivers on Google for our MOTs, servicing and repairs.

Book online using the booking form – choose the service, a preferred date and time, and tell us your registration. We confirm your slot by phone or email. If you would rather talk, call 020 7586 3580 or send us a WhatsApp message during opening hours.

Yes. We diagnose the problem first, explain what we found in plain English and give you the price. Any extra work found during an MOT or service is only carried out once you have agreed to it. Customers regularly mention our fair, honest pricing in their Google reviews.

In England, Scotland and Wales a car needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration, then every year after that. You can check when your MOT is due, and see your car’s full MOT history, for free on the GOV.UK website using your registration number.

Yes. You can have your MOT up to a month (minus a day) before your current certificate expires and still keep the same renewal date. Testing early also gives you time to fix anything that fails without your car going off the road. Book online or call 020 7586 3580.

We show you what failed and why, and quote for the repairs. If you leave the car with us and it is partially retested within 10 working days, there is no retest fee under DVSA rules. A car with a dangerous defect must not be driven until it is repaired.

Just the car. MOT records are held centrally by the DVSA, so you do not need your old certificate or logbook. It helps to make sure the number plates are clean and legible, the screen wash is topped up and the boot is clear, so the tester can reach the seatbelts and spare wheel area.

No. UK competition law lets you have your car serviced by an independent garage without affecting the manufacturer’s warranty, as long as the work follows the manufacturer’s service schedule and uses parts of matching quality. We stamp your service book and give you a record of the work done.

We service, repair and MOT most everyday makes and models of car. If a particular job needs specialist dealer software or equipment, we will tell you straight away rather than take it on. Call 020 7586 3580 with your registration and the problem, and we will tell you if we can help.

Yes. We source tyres to suit your car and budget, then fit, balance and check the wheel alignment. The legal minimum tread for cars in the UK is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre. If you are unsure about yours, we can check them for you when you visit.

If the light is steady and the car drives normally, drive gently and get it checked soon. If it is flashing, or the car is losing power or overheating, stop when it is safe to do so. An illuminated engine warning light is also an MOT failure on cars that have one.