Ahead of its upcoming talks with Government around the MOT fee, the Independent Garage Association will be stating the case on behalf of its members that the MOT fee needs to increase significantly.
Inflation alone makes the current MOT fee unsustainable; however, inflation is only part of the picture. Garages have also faced additional cost pressures relating to labour, rent, equipment, fuel, energy, compliance, administration and staff training meaning the MOT fee should be at least £95.
Stuart James, Chief Executive of the Independent Garage Association “It is a fact that the current MOT fee has remained static for 16 years. We are being advised by garage owners 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.”
A recent survey of IGA members demonstrates strong support across the independent garage sector for an increase to the MOT fee. Garages have also been clear about the commercial pressures they are facing. Comments from IGA members indicate that a growing number are already reducing MOT capacity.
If the MOT fee continues to fall behind the true cost of delivering the test, the consequences will increasingly be felt by motorists through reduced availability, fewer testing appointments and ultimately less consumer choice.
The issue now needs to be addressed urgently. The MOT fee has remained unchanged since 2010, while the costs of running a garage and delivering the test have risen substantially.
For every day that the MOT fee remains at its current level, the problem is escalating, with the potential to create serious challenges for motorists in terms of availability and consumer choice as garages are forced to reduce the capacity of the MOT testing bays they operate.
The MOT fee needs to be increased urgently to ensure that roads in the UK continue to remain amongst the safest in the world.
