The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation’s (IAAF) recent proposal to introduce a mandatory minimum MOT fee of £54.85 has sparked an active conversation across the UK garage sector.
While the federation aims to address the long-term sustainability of the testing infrastructure by preventing the use of the MOT as a loss leader, the reaction from the trade suggests a complex range of views on how best to reflect the true cost of testing.
Many in the industry agree that the current pricing model is under pressure.
Garage Matters readers have pointed out that the fee has been frozen since 2010, noting that this period has seen significant increases in operational costs, from technician recruitment and training to the substantial capital expenditure required for equipment calibration and compliance.
For many workshop owners, these rising costs make it difficult to reconcile the current fee cap with the expertise and resources needed to test modern, technology-laden vehicles.
Related: IAAF calls for mandatory minimum £54.85 MOT fee
However, the proposal for a £54.85 ‘floor’ has prompted a wider discussion on whether a more substantial adjustment is necessary to ensure the industry’s long-term health.
Several contributors argued that a fee closer to £80 or £100 would more accurately represent the value of an hour-long inspection that requires specialised equipment and high overheads, drawing comparisons to other professional services that operate at different price points.
Some emphasised that the primary goal should be to foster an environment where garages can charge a realistic, sustainable rate for their professional services, reflecting the high standards and ongoing investments required to keep pace of equipment investment.
Related: Gov’s self driving vehicle pilots trigger urgent questions on ADAS calibration, fleet work & data access
As the federation continues its engagement with government departments and industry stakeholders to develop a framework that supports both motorists and testing stations, the feedback from the trade underlines the importance of finding a balanced solution.
The consensus remains that whatever the final structure, the focus must stay on protecting the viability of the UK’s vehicle testing network while ensuring it remains fit for the future.
Garage Matters has reached out to the IAAF for further comment on the industry response.
4 comments
This must be the only one thing this government hasn’t increased or taxed, it can only be a matter of time!
It is ludicrous that for 16 years, everything has been going up at an astounding pace yet this hasn’t. Yes, it does need to go up, this time significantly so. And then it needs to be reviewed regularly, not put into a corner and forgotten about for years. If my memory serves me correctly, it was increased, then quite quickly to where we are now and then that department retired it would seem…. 🤔
I cannot think of anything else that has not increased substantially over the last 16 years!
Just out of interest, can anyone else think of anything?
Level the playing field for all only an idiot and a government that does not care about a vital safety issue and is frightened in case it impacts their electoral vote ignores and leaves an obvious mandatory price fix long overdue there is as much action on this issue as stopping the boats unfortunately we are governed by a set of morons not fit for purpose.
Discounting the MOT leads to a race to the bottom sadly. If local competition (particularly the deep pocket “nationals”) keep offering “cheap MOTs”, it will always be seen as some sort of avoidable tax or a cost that can be mitigated. Local garages can not agree among themselves to charge the full fee as that is deemed a cartel by DVSA, a breach of open competition and is prohibited for that reason. It seems sheer madness to allow a vital safety test to be viewed as a necessary evil that should be gotten “on the cheap”. It’s about time public education was used to explain why and what we do, how professional the testers are and how expensive it is to provide the service. Of all the trades, mechanics (and by extension MOT testers) are the worst paid and most looked down upon. The days of the “grease monkey” are over. We are highly skilled, regulated professionals and the fee should reflect that. The costs of training, compliance, pay, utilities, insurance and equipment are rising exponentially. Why should we bare that cost? No other professional would stand for it.