UK Garages Push for 73% Hike in Maximum MOT Testing Costs
- The Independent Garage Association (IGA) proposes raising the MOT fee cap from £54.85 to £95.
- The maximum fee for a standard Class 4 test has remained unchanged since April 2010.
- Rising operational costs for rent, energy, and labour are cited as the primary drivers for the increase.
- The Department for Transport currently states it has no plans to raise the fee.
- Industry representatives and the Government are scheduled to meet on October 21.
Motorists across the UK could see a sharp rise in the cost of mandatory vehicle inspections if a new industry proposal is adopted. The Independent Garage Association (IGA), which represents over 4,500 non-franchised repair businesses, has called for the maximum price of a standard Class 4 car MOT to be increased to at least £95. This proposed adjustment would mark a 73.2% increase from the current legal cap of £54.85.
The fee cap for a standard car MOT has remained stagnant for over fourteen years, having last been adjusted in April 2010. The IGA argues that this long-term freeze is no longer viable given the current economic climate. According to the Bank of England's inflation calculator, the 2010 fee of £54.85 would be worth approximately £87.54 today if it had been adjusted in line with rising prices.
As noted in reports by The Mirror, the trade body highlights that the costs of running a garage have climbed significantly. Factors such as higher rent, increased energy bills, rising labour costs, and the expense of modern testing equipment and staff training have all contributed to the pressure. Stuart James, the chief executive of the IGA, has formally described the current fee as 'unsustainable' for the industry. The UK currently has around 23,000 garages employing approximately 66,000 MOT testers, who collectively handled roughly 33 million car tests over the last year.
Beyond cars, the IGA is also seeking an increase for motorcycle MOTs, which are currently capped at £29.65. There are concerns that without a fee revision, garages may begin to reduce their testing capacity. Recent data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) already indicates that some businesses are mothballing their test lanes to prioritise more profitable repair and maintenance work. The IGA warns that this trend could lead to significantly longer booking lead times for drivers.
While industry representatives and the Department for Transport (DfT) are set to meet on October 21 to discuss these concerns, the Government has shown initial resistance. A spokesperson for the DfT stated that the government currently has 'no current plans' to increase the MOT fee. However, the upcoming meeting will provide a platform for the industry to present its case for why a price hike is necessary to maintain the UK's testing infrastructure.
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said, "Drivers are already squeezed by high insurance and fuel costs, so a significant jump in the MOT fee cap would be another unwanted hit to the cost of keeping a car on the road."
I hope they don’t increase the MOT cost to that amount as it’s a huge rise. Most garages find something that needs doing to pass the car and that NEVER comes cheap.
Such increments should be small and certainly seems strange not to increase in 14 years. Maybe every 2 years there is an increase in line with inflation etc. Wages have gone up, business rates have gone up etc. Seems unfair to garages and must put them under huge pressure to find other charges to add to it. It certainly must have been a lot more profitable 14 years ago to do a MOT than today. Also cars are becoming much more complex and harder to understand with more security system and hidden controls through LCD screens. Surely such complicated cars take more time than simple old school cars with analogue dials and simple buttons.