MOT price cap is hurting garages as costs continue to rise, says trade association

A "stagnant" MOT fee, capped at a maximum fee of £54.85 for cars, light commercial vehicles and motorhomes and £29.65 for motorcycles, is creating "serious economic risk" to the viability of the garage sector, warns the Independent Garage Association.

The IGA has written to the new Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander MP and also Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood MP, highlighting that the MOT fee cap has not changed for 14 years and this is causing significant financial strain on many testing stations.

For some it is "increasingly becoming unsustainable," warned IGA chief executive Stuart James (pictured).

He added: "MOT tests are an essential tool for maintaining vehicle safety and ensuring air quality, as they check vital safety components and monitor exhaust emissions. However, the financial pressures on some garages are increasingly jeopardising their ability to prioritise this vital service.

"Some independent garages are having to look closely at maximising their return from their garage facility to address rising costs whilst the MOT fee has staggeringly remained frozen since 2010. This situation for some businesses is increasingly becoming unsustainable.

“Many independent garages operate in a highly competitive market. If the MOT fee remains unchanged, some will be forced to shift focus to other areas of their business to mitigate against rising costs. Such a move could have serious consequences for consumers, road safety and the wider economy.”

A stagnant MOT fee, along with other rising costs, also hampers IGA members’ progress in recruiting, training, and equipping the skilled workforce necessary to handle the advanced technologies of today’s automotive sector.

The IGA has requested a meeting with officials with the aim of creating a constructive strategy going forward. 

James concluded: “I have raised this issue with both ministers and will continue to push for the issue in the new year. The IGA remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that our members can continue to operate their businesses in a fair environment, whilst still being able to provide this essential service, ensuring that UK roads remain some of the safest to use in the world.”

The MOT test could become even more complex in the years ahead to reflect some of the advanced technology on vehicles.

Earlier this year Peter Lawton, an aftermarket expert from the SMMT, told Automotive Management about the latest insights around the MOT, which following consultation the DfT has agreed to remain as a year-three first test and then annual tests.

He said the DfT is focused on how the MOT test may need to change in future, to encompass the latest technology, particularly ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems). Progressively, more and more individual ADAS elements are being mandated, but the big question for DfT is whether it would be reasonable for MOT tests to include all the systems that are fitted even if some weren’t mandatory.

Off the back of workshops the SMMT held with DfT and other third parties, there will be a pilot scheme to gather data from workshops as they see vehicles for an MOT about how often there are defects with ADAS and sensors. The data will help DfT to consider the impact of sensor issues in operations and to shape further explorations.

The traditional MOT station and current MOT regime is probably not best placed to test ADAS and EV systems, he said, which is why the subject is being explored.

Emerging DVSA data about electric vehicles, albeit from a small cohort, shows that at the first MOT test at three years-old more have tyre issues than with ICE cars. Early indications suggest suspension units on EVs could also be more problematic as they age, due to the higher weight of the vehicle.

“The idea that electric vehicles are simpler so you don’t need to have them checked as often, we were able to say that is not the case.”

Currently the Government believes the MOT test is “mostly sufficient” even for electric vehicles, he said. However, there are questions the DfT will consider for the future, such as should an EV charging cable be tested, and should regenerative braking and battery capacity be included.