Andy Burnham is under mounting pressure to increase MOT test fees, with one of the country's leading examiners calling for changes on safety grounds. The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is demanding that the maximum MOT test fee rises from its current £54.85 to £95.
Fees frozen since 2010
MOT charges have remained frozen since 2010, leaving garages unable to increase their prices despite soaring overheads. The IGA cautioned that numerous garages were being forced into tough commercial choices, with many businesses now "prioritising more commercially viable repair and servicing work" over MOT tests.
It is not only private independent garages feeling the pinch, with major operator KwikFit also supporting a consultation to examine new pricing structures. KwikFit, which conducts more than one million tests across over 500 centres annually, has claimed it would "welcome" a consultation into higher MOT fees and even suggested there was a safety element involved.
Safety concerns over outdated equipment
Speaking exclusively to The Express, Dan Joyce, operations director at KwikFit said: "We would welcome a consultation into the current fee structure for the MOT. Staff, equipment and property costs have increased significantly in the 16 years since the test fees for cars were last reviewed and there is a shortage of qualified testers."
Mr Joyce argued that there was a safety element involved, cautioning that it posed a "danger to the credibility of the test" if older garages lacked the funds to upgrade to more modern testing kit. The latest technology connects straight to the DVSA's MOT Testing Service, securing data to a particular vehicle and cutting the chances of fraudulent certificates.
Dan told The Express: "In addition, test centre owners are encouraged to invest in new connected equipment to meet the needs of the modernised MOT. An increase in the fee would help smaller operators justify the required investment. As a vital annual safety check, we believe every MOT should be carried out to the same standard and that there is a danger to the credibility of the test if it varies according to the equipment used."
IGA calls for government action
The IGA has outlined that raising MOT fees to £95 would help guarantee tests stay financially sustainable for independent garages. They argued that the change would also help safeguard capacity within the national testing network and preserve consumer choice for drivers.
Stuart James, chief executive of the IGA said: "Every month that passes without action increases the pressure on the businesses delivering this essential service. We now need Government to recognise the urgency of the situation and engage with us directly on how it will be resolved."
