New data shared by Tina Drayson of CCM Garages reveals that while MOT test volumes remain steady, driver deferrals on non-essential repairs are wiping thousands off monthly labor sales, raising serious questions over the viability of discounted test fees.

For years, the commercial logic behind the MOT test has relied on a simple trade-off: test fees cover the overheads, while the real workshop profit comes from rectified failures and necessary routine maintenance.

However, real-world workshop metrics suggest that ongoing cost-of-living pressures are breaking that traditional model.

Tina Drayson, Operations Director at CCM Garages, recently shared internal performance metrics comparing the first six months of 2026 against the same period in 2025. While overall test volumes and failure rates remained virtually identical, the financial picture after the vehicle left the ramp changed dramatically.

“Our data strongly suggests that ongoing cost-of-living pressures are changing customer behaviour,” said Tina. “Vehicle owners appear to be focusing on obtaining the MOT pass certificate rather than carrying out the preventative maintenance that would benefit the vehicle in the longer term.”

One of the key friction points facing service desks is the growing customer tendency to treat an MOT pass, or even a near-limit advisory, as a green light for the next 12 months.

A prime example highlighted in the data involves worn tyres. In 2025, a customer advised on front tyres at 2.1mm and 1.9mm with inner-edge wear would typically authorise new rubber and a wheel alignment check to fix the root cause, explains Tina.

In 2026, despite identical advice from technicians, Tina says a growing proportion of motorists are opting to drive away because the tyres haven’t yet hit 1.6mm, or they replace the tyres while skipping alignment to save upfront cash.

This short-term saving frequently leads to premature wear on the new tyres, worse fuel economy, and a significantly higher repair bill further down the road.

Why MOT discounts don’t add up

With repair margins tightening, the industry debate around MOT pricing takes on a very different dimension.

To recover a £5,000 monthly loss in repair labour while holding the MOT test at the statutory maximum fee of £54.85, a workshop would need to perform roughly 60 extra tests every month.

If that same workshop drops its test fee to £40 in a bid to drive volume, it would need to win 72 additional MOTs per month simply to break even against the lost repair work.

Tina argues that setting a fixed MOT fee, or making the current £54.85 cap the legal minimum charge, would protect both vehicle owners and independent workshops, allowing garages to compete on technical expertise, transparent service, and customer trust rather than a race to the bottom on price.

As vehicle complexity increases and consumer budgets tighten, the challenge facing independent workshops isn’t a lack of driver trust, it’s helping customers understand the long-term cost of deferring basic maintenance.

Are you seeing a similar drop in MOT repair labour at your workshop, or are your customers still authorising advisory work? Drop your thoughts, experiences, or numbers in the comments below.