The MoT Trade Forum, an affiliation of UK garage industry groups, is calling on Transport Minister David Jamieson to change the fee structure for the MoT test in the interest of road safety, testing quality, and to reward motorists who maintain their vehicles.

They are urging the minister to amend the structure to introduce a reduced but mandatory fee and a new scale of re-test charges.

The forum represents the interests of the UK’s 19,500 MOT testing stations.

They have proposed a complete overhaul of the test fee structure, based on surveys of motorists conducted by forum members and by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), the government agency responsible for the MoT scheme.A discount off the current fee for the 65% of motorists whose cars pass the MoT first time will ensure a fairer testing regime, the forum suggests.

A forum spokesman said: "The MoT is the only statutory government service provided by third parties that is subject to discounting. Although most garages charge the full fee, 80% or more offer a free re-test. Discounting costs about £17,000 a year for every testing station, depriving them of funding for re-investment and to install the latest test equipment. Also, of vital importance, is improved and ongoing training of staff."