Opinion: MOT extension is seeing majority of garages shut shop

[Mike Ruff, GW editor]

After a busy week, it became pretty obvious that the next few weeks would be a challenge. Andy Parsons of Shortfield garage in Surrey. MOT’s had alrea
[See the full post at: Opinion: MOT extension is seeing majority of garages shut shop]

[sue]

Totally agree that customers will not spend money on maintaining their vehicles if they don’t need a MOT. We were fully booked until this announcement happened and overnight everyone cancelled, even things like tyres and brakes were cancelled. We even had people cancel their motorbike maintenance!! That’s how crazy things are. We have now laid off 7 members of staff and are currently running on minimal work and staff. We have 10 empty ramps and no work in for next week – what’s the point of opening just in case you get a key worker needing a puncture!

[Lewis Jones]

I think the 6 month delay of Mot’s is a single step towards a 4-2-2 system, that they have been pushing for over the last 10 years

[Wayne]

I run a small garage in dereham and it’s killed my trade everyone has cancelled there work and I think the dvsa should pay my business the shortfall of lost revenue!

[daniel clarkson]

Halifax Autocentre
40 South Parade
even though the government have extended the mot by 6 months those customers who have tried to tax there car are unable to do so and have had to bring them in for an mot ,again a rash decision not thought through

[Tim Hubbard]

Very very worrying times for the world.mot saga should be revisited in 3 months.

[Gary Douglas]

I’ve had to close my garage as well following the rediculous decision to extend the mot’s by 6mnth, who thought 6mnth was a good idea???, 2 or 3mnth would be bad enough for garages to recover from, I recon it will take almost 2 years for garages to recoup the lost revenue from this if some actually do recover.

[Simon beament]

As a garage owner I have seen a huge reduction in bookings, we are still however managing to stay open albeit with reduced staffing.
Whilst the extension is a negative for garage owners if drivers are staying home and avoiding social contact we have to do what we can to stop this terrible virous.

Sooner we comply the sooner we can all get back to normality.

[Alex Rates]

We are a small village garage just outside dereham and have seen most of our work go, except the elderly and vulnerable who still seem to be out and about as normal in deepest darkest norfolk…

[Kathryn barnes]

We have also been affected by the mot extension but I have written to our MP’S both where we live and the constituency MP where our business is who both responded positively saying they would write to the minister for transport as they had not realised the implications and impact on our business can only suggest if more of us do this then the minister may listen

[Gary Brown]

I’m wondering how insurance companies will react to the government allowing the cars they insure to be driven around without inspection? The cynic in me says claims may get a little complicated!

[Dougal]

Take every penny that the Government offers you, your competitors will and you will be disadvantaged if you don’t.

[ALISON RILEY]

We are continuing to operate with half the staff. Many have cancelled their MOTs, however when they phone us I do explain that their vehicle must still be in safe condition and not to leave the rebook until October as all garages will be too busy.
We are all in for a tough ride!

[TEAM]

Whilst we have furloughed all our staff, we made the careful decision to remain open and have been fairly busy. Most customers with MOT’s have brought them in anyway. Have been advising that whilst there is a six month extension, please do not leave for six months and to PLEASE check tyres as best as possible if not having the MOT done to not get a fine or points. Keeping our customers and selves safe at all time

[peter stocker]

I run a small garage in Devon on the edge of a small town , work has dropped off for me also and I am doing a two day week just for emergency work and key workers ( mainly farmers ).
After reading everyone going on about the six month extension I think people are missing the fact that their customers could of been furloughed and therefor cannot afford to have their cars MOT`d at the moment, most of my work comes from people who work.
We are all in the same boat after all .

[Joe Brookshaw]

Definitely not the beset idea made by a goverment

[Hazel Hanley]

We’d had a really busy week until the MOT extension was announced and overnight every booking was cancelled. The first and only booking we have is 12th May. I’d actually spoken to our MP who is on the Transport Select Committee that morning and he didn’t mention it was happening. We closed on 3rd April and furloughed four staff.

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