Rising costs are a common complaint among customers, yet one automotive charge has remained unchanged: MOT fees have not increased in more than 16 years. While this benefits bikers and car drivers, it presents challenges for the dealers providing the service. Despite rising business costs, the government-set MOT fee has been frozen since 2010.
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has called for change, with a substantial increase in the fee that garages can charge for MOTs. Stuart James, chief executive of the IGA, said: “It is a fact that the current MOT fee has remained static for 16 years. Garage owners have advised that without a significant increase to the MOT fee, they cannot continue to sustain this ever-increasing cost burden. As the representative body for the independent garage sector, the IGA will continue to challenge the government to deliver an acceptable resolution to this issue before it causes a level of consumer detriment.”
The IGA has also set out four key priorities for the trade, with an MOT fee increase at the top of the list. Other priorities include reducing cost burdens such as business rates and National Insurance, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses, addressing the skills gap and boosting employment opportunities for young people, and resolving uncertainty around the shift to zero-emission vehicles. The IGA says its members support the transition to electric and are prepared to invest in new equipment and training, but businesses need confidence in getting a return on that investment.
The government has also begun rolling out a new measure which will require photographs to be taken during MOTs as proof that the vehicle was actually present for the test. This additional security step aims to prevent ‘ghost’ MOT tests, where fraudulent certificates are issued without the vehicle being tested. The pilot scheme began on 3 August, with 2500 test garages across the country participating. The photo feature currently supports existing MOT processes and is optional for now, but the government has indicated it may become mandatory in the future.