The capital’s surge in vehicles, coupled with a shortage of authorised testing centres and parts delays, has created a significant backlog for MOT tests. This crisis is forcing drivers to wait longer and travel further for essential vehicle inspections.
Research by Gophr reveals that London has nearly 3 million cars on the road, and the number of MOT testing centres is insufficient to meet the demand. As a result, each centre must serve an average of over 1,900 vehicles, leading to lengthy wait times.
Some London boroughs, such as Westminster, Islington, and Kensington & Chelsea, face even more severe challenges due to a lack of testing centres. These areas, known as “MOT deserts,” have limited options for drivers seeking MOT tests.
The delays caused by the shortage of testing centres and parts can result in additional costs for drivers. Those living within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) may face double charges if their vehicles need to remain overnight at garages awaiting parts.
Graham Smith of Gophr stresses the pressure on testing centres and the importance of efficient part deliveries in addressing this crisis. He highlighted the need for improved access to MOT testing facilities and streamlined parts distribution to ensure timely and efficient vehicle maintenance.
Source: London Business
Peter Widdop
The issue with a lack of test centres I imagine is due to the rising cost of running an MOT testing station and the maximum fee for the test not rising, this has been becoming a bigger issue over the years and is well known in the trade. I run a testing station in the North Leeds area and the costs have doubled in the last 10 years, rent, insurance, salaries, electricity, calibrations, cost of equipment. The areas mentioned in your article, I would imagine, would cost even more to run a garage than mine does. Only yesterday I did a little calculation, I do regular MOT’s for another garage on the estate, this month this garage has brought me 28 MOT tests. I charge this garage £45 per test, yes I know that is under the maximum but the garage provides me with regular work, everyone else pays £54.85 and have always done since that fee was introduced. If I work out the amount of time spent doing those MOT’s at 45 minutes a test and compare it to the amount I would have charged out over the counter at my hourly rate then I would have been £420 better off. The MOT test fee is not in line with current costs and labour rates which is why VTS’ are getting harder to book in with.
Barry MOT Juice
1900 mot tests a year is not nearly enough to properly support a profitable mot bay, that is little more than £400 a day in revenue, try to find a suitable location and staff and make a profit in central London with zero parking and a council that thinks it can derive a great amount of its income from vehicle owners
Tracey Pointer
ANOTHER FINE MESS THAT YOU GOT US INTO MR GOVERNMENT
Andrew MacCreadie
The problem is that the fee for an MOT hasn’t changed in the last at least 13 years, it is now well below the average hourly rate so garages are no longer willing to invest in new equipment. once old equipment becomes un usable or out of date it is not being replaced and the garage discontinues offering MOT testing. The space (2 =bays) is then used for more profitable activities such as servicing and tyre changing, Garages are also investing more in ADAS calibration that makes good use of redundant MOT bays and can be charged at reasonable rates. Government needs to act swiftly to rectify this.
BRENDA HUNTER
This is not only in London it is throughout the country. Lack of MOT Testers, Motor Vehicle Mechanics and supply of essential Parts to repair vehicles is shocking, even Main Dealers and suppliers are having problems getting parts and placing items on back order, waiting of parts into the country. This problem is not only the Motor industry but every Industry. Since Brexit and Covid this country has no structure left, and no-one is taking any notice of the people on the front line of industry.
j
are they surprised the fee has remained the same for the last 14 years it needs to be raised else there is no incentive to do MOT’S when the cost of labour power equipment and many other items are increasing in price all the time but not the MOT FEE
Nigel Arnold
I totally agree with all the above and more. Unfortunately we have all been saying this for many years now and NO ONE is listening to us and I can only see this situation getting a lot worse
yet ! ,,, ;-(
I am seriously considering handing my MOT Test licence.
steve coppock
Totally agree, I repair motorcycles and thats worse getting some parts now is a joke which Mr Customer does not understand
Eddie Bamber
When I did the course to become an m.o.t tester, it was free. Now it costs around £1,000 as you have to do the course at a college. This is adding to the lack of testers as some technicians will be unable or unwilling to pay this price. The alternative is for the business to pay it – adding more cost to the business.
STEVE
we have had to reduce the amount of mot tests we do because we cant afford to do too many