The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has been invited to a meeting with The Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood MP, to discuss the financial challenges posed by the stagnant MOT fee cap, unchanged for over 14 years.
The meeting will address the importance of MOT tests in maintaining road safety and improving environmental standards in the UK, while emphasising how unchanging fees, amidst rising operational costs, threaten the viability of independent garages. The IGA intends to present key concerns, propose solutions, and collaborate with Lilian Greenwood MP on actionable steps towards positive change.
Stuart James, Chief Executive of the IGA, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to address the issues surrounding the stagnant MOT fees. “This meeting is a crucial step in highlighting how the unchanged fee, coupled with inflationary pressures and additional costs outlined in the recent autumn budget, creates an unsustainable environment for many independent garage businesses,” he said.
Maintaining the quality and integrity of MOT testing amidst rising costs and evolving vehicle technologies requires adequate funding. Increasing the MOT fee is seen as a necessary step to ensure garages can invest in advanced equipment, infrastructure, and ongoing training for technicians.
The IGA seeks to protect the integrity and reliability of MOT testing and support a sustainable, accessible, and trustworthy service for motorists.
James concluded, “The IGA is advocating for a fairer economic landscape that supports independent garages, prioritises consumer safety, and promotes workforce development. I will remain persistent in my dedication to ensuring our members can operate their businesses in a fair and sustainable environment while delivering this essential service and upholding the UK’s reputation for having some of the safest roads in the world.”
Shayne Cuthbert
This is well overdue. As a garage who carries out MOT’s, with the amount of hassle, increasing costs etc, I would stop testing if it wasn’t for the fact it would be detrimental to my business from a logistics point of view. Garages are not a charity, we are here to make a profit from running a business, and I’m struggling to think of many things that have not increased in cost over the last 14 years!!
Mark Davis
The motor mechanic role is becoming more demanding and responsible and even qualifying to part three is now very intense but we are still not recognised in the same way a gas engineer or an electrician, any self appointed nobody can legally “repair”(and charge for) a vehicles brakes, steering etc., but cannot plumb a gas cooker or mains circuit in their own house. Sadly many vehicles only visit a garage for an MOT and owners naively believe that is enough. I now pay my testers and top technicians over £52,000 per annum so £54.85 does not cover my costs (more so with the coming budget effects) and for 14 years the government excuse is that they cannot price fix. Make discount illegal and increase the fee.
martin
ive been saying the mot fee has to increase for years. i run a motorcycle mot centre and youre lucky to make £20 on a mot. one tester can maybe do 2 an hour. which is onky £40 a hour. Most main dealers charge well over £100 a hour. If you consider the testers wages, running costs, rent, heating, etc. Its getting to the point where we will have to call it a day as there is no profit in doing it. The government have to act NOW . There excuse is that they dont want to burden motorists with more costs.. while every year they increase road tax and introduce congestion charges. Its double standards. I really hope something gets done soon before i have to close for good.
Andrew MacCreadie
Garages need the ability to invest in new equipment, but the stagnant MOT fee is preventing many from doing so. As a result, many garages delay essential investments until absolutely necessary, and some are choosing to stop testing altogether.
Most independent garage labor rates exceed £75 per hour, while main dealerships charge over £150 per hour. Given these rates, the MOT test is no longer the attractive proposition it once was and is increasingly viewed as a “loss leader.” This could, in turn, encourage mis-selling by less scrupulous businesses, much like how discounting once did.
To ensure staff retention and continued investment in equipment, the MOT fee should be equivalent to at least an hour’s labor. For comparison, the AA charges £142 for a basic vehicle inspection, and the RAC charges £116—neither of which provide the same consumer protections as an MOT test, which costs just £54.85.
A reasonable and sustainable fee would be a minimum of £80, ensuring MOT tests remain good value for consumers while allowing garages to maintain high standards and reinvest in essential equipment.
Neville Smith
The main problem with MOT Fees is they are not a fixed price, like many garages would like to see. With many fast fits and garages heavily discounting the fee to get customers in the door why would the government see the need to raise it.
The discounting undermines the value of the test and its effectiveness in road safety. Many feel the need to discount to keep pace with those around them.
We should have a fixed reasonable price to avoid hopping around and the bigger chains using it as a bargaining chip. You can by your road tax or tv licence discounted.
Austin Newman
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE also discuss making the fee non-discountable in any way shape or form (no free Mot with every service or £15 Mot tests) All that does is belittle the Mot scheme.
Steven Coates
Government should make it a set fee across the board not you can’t charge no more than but
Class 2+3 x amount
Class 4 X amount
Etc etc
Kay Fellows
Stuart James needs to make garages feelings known to the minister for the Government. The MOT fee is out of line with inflation and with no price increase for 14 years it should be around £80.00 per MOT if it was to follow inflation over that time period.
Members of the IGA quite often feel let down on this issue and there is a strong case to increase this charge.
The automotive industry needs to change and be regulated to make ‘back street garages’ more accountable for how they operate and Technicians not ‘Mechanics’ earn the respect they deserve after all they have to complete 3 years worth or qualifications and training (the same length of time as a degree!!!!!!!).
It all has to change for the good of the industry.
Debra GRUNDY
Totally agree otherwise we are no better off!
graham+cox
are they talking to us garages on the front line trying to make a living ???
john w morris
The MOT fee should be set at whatever is agreed and should be a reasoable amount to cover costs associated with it you should not be allowed to do discout MOTs with a service or provide free MOT for life as some dealers offer.
Bill
Totally agree.
James C
The guy that does the majority of my MOT’s has an average sell-out rate of £10 per hour below the other two technicians, roughly 1700 per month or 20k per year in lost revenue. With most average labour rates over £70 ph now, we need big changes, and fast “growth” should not be reserved for the bigger companies, especially with the current skills shortage and increases to NI.
Who is queueing up to take on an apprentice right now?
I wonder if Stuart James is taking these figures with him, because if you put those figures in front of a Labour MP right now, they would bite your hand off!
paul robbie
This is a long overdue chat. The fee for an MOT test should be set at a decent level to allow garages to invest and carry on running a testing centre without the fear of some quickfit chain offering £20.00 tests. Long overdue a set decent fee.
Bill
The price is getting undermined by some garages who do discounted MOTs, even if a minimum charge was applied some garages would discount the service instead or other work.
Andy TROLLOPE
I completely agree with all the above comments. Increase the fee and make it non discountable offering firm, fair testing is all the consumer wants and many of us independent garages offer that. The big fast fit discounted mott’s will go as will the big rip off many customers cannot see is happening.
At the current rate it is hard to make money when average labour rate is £75.00 so if a fast fit is offering it for £20.00 it’s obvious they will be making it back by failing vehicles and charging for repairs that are not needed.
Taz
I totally agree with everyone here the time taken to do a proper honest MOT is not worth the measly fee we have to charge if it passes however is it because if there was a set minimum fee would the likes of tesco open Mot stations next to there stores??
I mean let’s face they seem to let anyone open a station these days qualified or not!!!
Alan Pirie
I totally agree with all of the above ,But GOVERMENT have not looked at MOT prices for 14 year , as no politician has a vehicle old enough to require an MOT
David Greenwood
This Govt.is unlikely to do anything sensible to resolve this situation. Then we will get 4.2.2 also with no price increase. Perhaps MOT stations should do as the train drivers do? This country is basically finished.
Adem
It’s certainly justifiable, there isn’t much that hasn’t had a price increase in 14 years! A price increase (and SETTING standard fees for the various classes) could make MOT testing profitable. That might make garages take the scheme more seriously. We all know that currently most garages “use” the MOT as a method of bringing in revenue from repairs rather than it being a source of revenue itself.