How Long Does a Full Body MOT Take?

You've chosen your tier, and now you need to know how much of the day to clear. Maybe you're fitting it in before work, or arranging cover for an afternoon.

Allow 45 minutes for the Essential Health MOT, 1 to 1.5 hours for Advanced, 2.5 to 3 hours for Elite, and 3 to 4 hours for Ultimate, which includes 60 to 90 minutes of MRI. Your written report and review appointment follow on a later day, once the laboratory and any imaging have been reported.

If you already know which tier suits you, you can compare the full body MOT tiers and book online. Every tier is doctor-led at our Harley Street clinic.

Time by tier

The time you need grows with what each tier adds, from a 45-minute baseline to a half-day visit that includes 60 to 90 minutes in the scanner. Each tier is one coordinated appointment, and the report and review come afterwards.

What happens on the day, step by step

Every tier follows the same shape. You check in, see the doctor, have your blood tests, then move through whatever extras your tier includes. Higher tiers add more steps in the middle, but the core visit runs in the same order. For the full list of what each tier covers, see what a full body MOT includes.

You'll start by going through your history with the doctor, including current medicines, family history and the question you want answered. A physical examination and measurements follow, with body composition, an ECG and oxygen saturation on every tier. Your blood tests usually come next. The panel depends on your tier, from the core metabolic bloods on Essential to the expanded thyroid and hormone work on Advanced and above.

From Advanced upwards, the visit usually also includes a chest X-ray and spirometry, plus a DEXA scan where the assessment indicates one. Elite adds ultrasound and, for women, a consultant gynaecology examination and smear, usually on the Thursday or Friday specialist day. Ultimate replaces the chest X-ray and DEXA with an MRI protocol of 60 to 90 minutes at the Harley Street imaging partner. It covers the brain, intracranial and carotid MRA, whole spine and torso. Your visit ends once the doctor has covered everything on your tier's list, and the results appointment is booked for another day.

Why the higher tiers take longer

Advanced builds on the Essential baseline with imaging (a chest X-ray), lung function testing, a VO2 max assessment and a wider hormone and thyroid panel. That's why it needs 1 to 1.5 hours rather than 45 minutes. Elite adds ultrasound and, for women, a gynaecology consultation and smear, so it usually needs 2.5 to 3 hours. For women, it runs on the Thursday and Friday specialist days. Ultimate takes longest, at 3 to 4 hours, because 60 to 90 minutes of MRI sits on top of the same assessment and bloods as Elite.

When results and the review happen

Your results come in a written report, followed by a face-to-face review where a doctor goes through it with you. Essential and Advanced reports usually take a few working days. Elite and Ultimate take longer where specialist reporting and MRI are involved. Keep a separate date free for the review, since it happens after the report is ready rather than straight after your visit.

Planning your day

Check which tier you booked before you plan your morning, because the fast and the time differ. Essential needs no fast. Advanced, Elite and Ultimate all need a minimum four-hour fast, and you can still drink water. Wear comfortable clothes you can move in for the examination. If your tier includes ultrasound, a smear or a mammogram, pick something easy to change out of.

Bring a list of your medicines with doses, and any previous blood results, scans or clinic letters. They give the doctor a baseline to read your new results against. The clinic is at 117a Harley Street, London W1G 6AT, close to Regent's Park and Great Portland Street underground stations. Allow time to travel, or to park if you're driving.

If you're booked for Ultimate, tell the clinic before the day about any implants, a pacemaker, an older aneurysm clip, metal fragments or claustrophobia. These are MRI safety questions, and they're best raised well before you're on the table. For the full preparation list by tier, see how to prepare for a Health MOT.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go back to work after my MOT?

Yes, once you've allowed the full time for your tier. If you've fasted, have something to eat before heading back. If anything in your visit means you should take it easy afterwards, the doctor will tell you before you leave.

Is everything done in one visit?

Yes. The examination, bloods and any imaging or specialist elements in your tier happen in one coordinated booking. The written report and the review appointment follow afterwards, once everything has been reported.

Do I get results on the day?

Your results come later, in a written report. Essential and Advanced reports usually take a few working days, and Elite and Ultimate take longer where specialist reporting and MRI are involved. At the review appointment, the doctor goes through the report with you.

Can I eat after the blood test?

The fast is for the blood tests. If your tier includes later steps such as an ultrasound, ask the team on the day whether to wait until those are done before you eat.

Why do women's Elite appointments run on Thursdays and Fridays?

Women's Elite includes a consultant gynaecology consultation and examination, which the clinic schedules on its Thursday and Friday specialist days. Men's Elite runs Monday to Friday.

How long is the MRI?

The Ultimate MRI protocol takes 60 to 90 minutes and covers the brain, intracranial and carotid MRA, whole spine and torso, at the Harley Street imaging partner. It's part of the 3 to 4 hours you should allow for the full Ultimate visit.

When you know which tier fits, you can compare the full body MOT tiers and book online. You can also read what the Essential Health MOT, Advanced Health MOT and Ultimate MOT with MRI each include. If you'd rather book through our sister clinic, there's also a doctor-led MOT at Medical Express Clinic.

Written By

Stephen Lingam

Managing Director

Managing Director of Medical Express Clinic and the Health Screening Clinic since 1984. Over 40 years of operational experience in private healthcare on Harley Street, overseeing patient care, clinical standards, and service delivery.

Medically Reviewed

Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar

MD, PhD, LRCP, MSc, DHMSA

Clinical Lead

GMC: 4694470

Leading our clinical team with a focus on comprehensive men's health and preventative oncology protocols.

Last reviewed: 01/10/2026