MOT training deadline fast approaching – here’s what you need to do

LKQ Euro Car Parts trading director Anthony Mcateer shares his MOT tips

MOT training deadline fast approaching – here’s what you need to do
Image: Bigstock.

Last year, in response to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government extended both the MOT Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training window for garages and the MOT testing deadline by 12 months and six months respectively.

MOTs are a critical and reliable source of revenue for garages.

Private modes of transport i.e. passenger cars are the order of the day at the moment – and given changes to the e-commerce landscape brought about by COVID, it’s never been more important to keep delivery and other essential vehicles on the move.

But while the traditional MOT season has been disrupted – and will stay that way until those vehicles that were deferred reach end of life – the training deadline is still April 30.

The MOT training window is closing in less than 40 days – and following last year’s extension, technicians could now in effect have almost two years’ worth of CPD to catch up on.

Each year, testing standards undergo vital changes that are put in place to aid safety and drive quality.

If technicians aren’t up to date, they might overlook key details that could put their both their customers and other drivers at risk.

This is doubly important when considering the impact of lockdown on vehicles, many of which might be in a poorer condition than typically expected, having sat idle for much of the last year.

Components such as brakes, for example, can begin to corrode when there isn’t sufficient motion to prevent rust from building up. Similarly, tyres can begin to lose their efficacy when lying unused.

LKQ Euro Car Parts offers IMI-approved MOT training – both full annual CPD and routine refresher courses.

These courses can easily be accessed online, making them a safe, convenient and hassle-free choice in the current climate.

For those technicians who would prefer a more hands-on approach, LKQ Euro Car Parts also offers classroom-based programmes through its AutoEducation Academy, which helps technicians put their skills into practice during the training process. All AutoEducation training is delivered subject to the current social distancing guidelines.

Staying up to date with your CPD is about more than just ensuring that you’re legally permitted to carry out tests, and able to tap into the MOT revenue stream.

It’s about completing every job to the highest standard – which means providing excellent customer service and taking opportunities to upsell.

Sharing tips and advice with customers to help them prevent repeat problems with their vehicles will help secure their loyalty.

And you can suggest additional repairs to parts that might not yet constitute a fail, but which could become most costly if left to get worse.

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