The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has joined forces with the Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) ahead of ministerial talks, escalating pressure on the government to deliver an immediate increase to the statutory MOT test fee.
Presenting a united cross-border front to the Department for Transport, both trade bodies warn that the commercial viability of MOT testing is reaching breaking point, directly endangering national testing capacity if the fee cap remains frozen.
The statutory ceiling for a Class 4 MOT test has been capped at £54.85 since April 2010.
In the 16 years since, workshops have absorbed relentless operational cost increases, including soaring business rates, commercial energy spikes, technician wages, and mandatory investments in connected test lane equipment, decelerometers, and annual tester training.
“Garages cannot continue absorbing costs’
The collaboration signals a concerted push by the two dominant trade associations representing independent testing stations across England, Wales, and Scotland.
Stuart James, Chief Executive of the IGA, stressed that Westminster can no longer ignore the collective strain felt on workshop floors: “We have been relentless in our efforts to secure a fair and sustainable increase to the MOT fee, but it is equally important that government hears a united message from across the sector.
“By working closely with the Scottish Motor Trade Association, we are demonstrating that garages on both sides of the border face the same challenges and share the same concerns about the future sustainability of MOT testing.
“Garages cannot continue absorbing rising costs indefinitely while the MOT fee remains frozen.
“Urgent action is needed to protect the long-term viability of MOT testing and ensure motorists can continue to access this essential safety service.”
Echoing those concerns, Alan Gall, Chief Executive of the SMTA, highlighted that the issue extends beyond trade balance sheets to road safety: “It is of the highest importance, not only for our industry, but the benefits and safety of all, that the government takes this issue forward with the IGA and SMTA.”
Testing capacity on the brink
While the IGA has previously lobbied for the statutory test fee cap to be raised significantly to reflect real-world testing costs and wage inflation, many vehicle testing stations (VTS) have voiced mounting frustration at being forced to subsidise statutory inspections through secondary repair work.
With an hour of workshop labour across the independent sector now averaging well above the capped cost of a 45-minute test slot, workshop owners are increasingly questioning whether dedicating valuable bay space and qualified testers to MOTs makes business sense.
Trade leaders fear that without a formal upward review of the fee cap, testing stations will increasingly hand back their VTS authorisations, restricting driver access to local testing facilities and undermining the annual roadworthiness regime.
Have your say: Is your workshop reaching the stage where running an MOT lane is no longer commercially viable at £54.85? What should the statutory fee be set at to properly reflect current labour and overhead costs?
