Cost of living crisis will lead to surge in number of cars without a valid MOT

March set to be the worst month for cars without an MOT

Portrait of a mechanic at work in his garage
Photo: Bigstock

Hundreds of thousands of cars could be on UK roads without an MOT because their owners cannot afford the test fee.

This is according to a survey of 2006 motorists.

One in six (17 percent) of drivers whose vehicles’ MOT is due in March say they cannot afford the fee, which is currently £54.85 for a car with up to eight passenger seats.

The majority (71%) of those people say they will continue to use their vehicle without an MOT. Halfords, which commissioned the survey, said this could add another 406,000 untested vehicles to UK roads.

Two-thirds of the respondents said they have to prioritise their spending elsewhere, as the UK deals with the cost of living crisis. This puts them at risk of being fined up to £1000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT.

Halfords chief executive, Graham Stapleton, said: ”The data shows that March is set to be the worst month we have ever seen when it comes to cars on our roads without an MOT.

”MOTs are vital annual safety checks. It’s not about ticking boxes.

“The fact that so many could be driving their kids to school in vehicles without an MOT is a genuine worry. The bottom line is that it is not worth the risk, not just of a fine and points, but of endangering yourself or others.”

Antony Kildare, chief executive of road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, added: “Households up and down the country are being forced to cut back on everyday outgoings to balance the books, but it’s extremely worrying to learn that such a large proportion of motorists are opting not to have their annual MOT.”

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