Knowledge Centre
Providing rapid medical guidance and expert health insights for informational purposes. Our guides come from a Harley Street clinic, but they do not replace a professional consultation.
Essential or Advanced MOT: comparing the actual tests
Written by Mr Stephen Lingam · Reviewed by Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar (GMC 4694470) on 25/09/2026
Key takeaways
- The Essential MOT (£495) is a doctor-led baseline: GP consultation, physical examination, 12-lead ECG, body composition analysis and 60+ laboratory markers, with results in 3 to 5 working days.
- The Advanced MOT (£999) includes everything in Essential, plus a chest X-ray, spirometry, a VO2 Max fitness assessment, a full hormone profile and a year of follow-up GP access, taking the count to 75+ markers.
- Advanced's year of GP access is four consultations, unlimited in duration, to use in the 12 months from screening, which you can share with immediate family.
- Both tiers include an in-person review of every result with your doctor.
- Pick Advanced when a lung, hormone or ongoing GP question applies to you; otherwise Essential covers the same core baseline for less.
You have narrowed it down to two tiers. Both include a doctor, both look thorough, and one costs about twice the other. The useful question is what the extra money actually buys.
Essential and Advanced share the same doctor-led baseline: a GP consultation, physical examination, ECG and core blood panel. Advanced adds chest imaging, lung function testing, hormone profiling and a year of GP access on top. If a lung, hormone or follow-up question applies to you, the Advanced MOT is the tier to look at first.
If you just want a solid baseline and you're ready to book, Essential is £495 and available Monday to Friday at 117a Harley Street.
What does the Essential MOT include?
The Essential MOT is a doctor-led baseline for adults of any age from 18. Alongside the examination, ECG, body composition and urinalysis, it measures 60+ markers. They run from blood count, iron and ESR to cholesterol, glucose, HbA1c, liver and kidney function (with eGFR), uric acid, calcium and bone markers, and basic thyroid tests (FT4 and TSH).
The appointment takes 45 to 60 minutes, and results are usually ready within 3 to 5 working days. You get a secure digital report of over 30 pages, and your GP goes through every result with you in person.
What does the Advanced MOT add?
Advanced adds four things to Essential: a radiologist-reported chest X-ray, spirometry, a VO2 Max fitness test and a full hormone profile. The thyroid panel gains FT3 and antibodies, and vitamin B12 and D are tested.
That takes the total to 75+ markers. The appointment runs 60 to 90 minutes, and the report grows to over 40 pages.
Side by side: what is actually different.
| Essential (£495) | Advanced (£999) | |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation and physical examination | Yes | Yes |
| 12-lead ECG | Yes | Yes |
| Body composition analysis | Yes | Yes |
| Laboratory markers | 60+ | 75+ |
| Chest X-ray | No | Yes, radiologist-reported |
| Spirometry (lung function) | No | Yes |
| VO2 Max fitness assessment | No | Yes |
| Hormone profile | No | Yes (LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone, oestradiol, SHBG, FAI) |
| Advanced thyroid panel (FT3, antibodies) | No | Yes |
| Vitamin B12 and D | No | Yes |
| Follow-up GP access | Results review only | 1 year, 4 consultations |
| Appointment length | 45-60 minutes | 60-90 minutes |
| Results turnaround | 3-5 working days | 3-5 working days |
Why does Advanced include a chest X-ray and lung function test?
Because they answer a respiratory question. Spirometry measures how much air you can breathe out and how quickly, which can show patterns seen in asthma or COPD. Both tests matter most if you smoke or used to, have breathing symptoms, or work around lung irritants.
Neither diagnoses disease on its own, and a normal chest X-ray doesn't rule out cancer. New breathlessness, a cough lasting more than 3 weeks or coughing up blood needs a GP appointment now rather than a wait for a screening appointment.
Why does Advanced include hormone testing?
Hormone profiling answers questions a baseline can't, such as symptoms of low testosterone in men or cycle-related questions in women. If you still have periods, the clinic can advise the best time in your cycle for the blood draw.
One thing worth knowing: for women over 45 with typical symptoms, NICE says menopause and perimenopause are diagnosed from symptoms, without a hormone blood test, so you don't need a hormone profile just to confirm them.
What does the year of GP access in Advanced cover?
Advanced includes four GP consultations, unlimited in duration, to use during the 12 months from your screening date. You can use them yourself or share them with immediate family, to follow up a result or review a plan with the same doctors. For comparison, a standard private GP consultation at the clinic is £150.
With Essential, the included results review is your follow-up, and any further GP appointments are booked separately. Where treatment is appropriate, the plan is agreed at that review at no extra consultation cost. Neither tier is insurance, so prescriptions, medication and repeat tests are charged separately.
Will either tier flag something?
Often, and cholesterol is the usual one: 47% of recent clinic MOTs that included cholesterol markers had at least one high cholesterol-related finding. Our over-40 health check guide explains what that figure means and how it sits beside the free NHS Health Check.
What if you need scans beyond Advanced?
Ultrasound, mammogram, tumour markers and MRI sit in the Elite and Ultimate tiers. Our guide to when Elite is the right upgrade covers the imaging tier, and what a full-body MRI can show covers Ultimate.
For prices across all four tiers, and how they compare with other London clinics, see what a full body MOT costs, or compare every inclusion on the full body MOT page.
Sources
- Cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification (NG238) — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence[Link]
- Principles of population screening — UK National Screening Committee (GOV.UK)[Link]
- Information development guidance (informed choice) — UK National Screening Committee (GOV.UK)[Link]
- NHS Health Check — NHS[Link]
Mr Stephen Lingam
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Frequently asked questions
Is either MOT a substitute for seeing a GP about symptoms?
Both are planned screening for people without new problems. New, severe or worsening symptoms need a symptom-focused GP appointment or urgent care.
Do I need to fast before either MOT?
Only if the clinic gives you a specific instruction for the tests you've selected. Otherwise eat and drink normally, keep taking regular medicines unless told otherwise, and stay hydrated.
Is Advanced better value just because it has more tests?
Only if you'll use what it adds. If you have no respiratory concerns or hormone questions and don't expect to use GP follow-up, Essential covers the same cardiovascular, metabolic and organ-function baseline for less.
Who is Advanced particularly suited to?
Current or former smokers, people who want lung function measured, women with cycle-related hormone questions, men with symptoms of low testosterone, and anyone who wants a year of follow-up GP access built into the price.
What happens if a result is outside the expected range?
Your doctor interprets it alongside your examination, history and the rest of your profile at the included results review. The next step may be no action, monitoring, lifestyle advice, treatment, repeat testing or specialist referral, because a laboratory result on its own isn't a diagnosis. Results outside the range can be temporary or affected by medicines and supplements.
How long does each appointment take?
Essential takes 45 to 60 minutes. Advanced takes roughly 60 to 90 minutes, because of the added chest X-ray, spirometry and VO2 Max assessment.
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