Reply To: Number of MOT testers struck off increases by 82 per cent

[Peter Miles]

I’m not going to say it’s the only reason, because obviously it isn’t, but surely the incredibly low prices some places are charging for a test could have some bearing on standards? I’ve seen places only a few miles from me charging 15 pounds for a test. Think about that for about 3/4 to 1 hours work including rates, lighting & heating, insurance, calibration costs, equipment costs, the testers wages and hopefully a profit at the end of it. It makes no sense! The only way I can see that can be profitable (let alone moral!) is to either find faults which aren’t there but you can charge for “fixing” or only spend around ten minutes a test but do something else before you book the car out. Or most likely both!
For myself I charge full price (54-85 for a group 4 test) and do the very best I can to be fair but at the same time not miss anything. And although I suppose in 25 years testing I must have missed things at least I do my very best. And I’m showing no signs of retiring to Bermuda either!