The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is preparing to challenge the government for a substantial increase to the statutory MOT test fee, warning that the current pricing structure has become commercially unsustainable.
With formal discussions set, the trade body will argue that the maximum fee cap, which has remained frozen at £54.85 since 2010, must rise to at least £95 to reflect modern operational realities.
A recent survey of IGA members confirmed overwhelming sector support for an immediate fee revision, with business owners warning that maintaining MOT capacity at current rates is no longer viable.
The trade body warns that prolonged inaction from policymakers is already distorting the market.
Feedback from testing stations indicates a growing number of businesses are actively reducing their MOT slot allocations or mothballing test lanes in favour of more profitable service and repair work.
If the cap remains unchanged, the sector faces severe bottlenecks, leading to longer booking lead times, reduced local availability, and restricted choice for vehicle owners.
Mounting operational pressures
While headline inflation over the past 16 years has severely eroded margins, the IGA highlights that the cost burden extends far beyond general cost-of-living increases.
Testing stations have absorbed steep rises across every facet of operation, including:
Workshop overheads: Soaring commercial rent, energy tariffs, and fuel costs.
Equipment & tech: Significant capital outlay for connected testing equipment, calibration, and bay maintenance.
Staff & compliance: Increased expenditure on skilled labour, continuous tester training, quality management, and administrative compliance.
Stuart James, Chief Executive of the Independent Garage Association, said: “It is a fact that the current MOT fee has remained static for 16 years.
“We are being advised by garage owners that without a significant increase to the MOT fee, they cannot continue to sustain this ever-increasing cost burden.
“As the representative body for the independent garage sector, the IGA will continue to challenge the government to deliver an acceptable resolution to this issue before it causes a level of consumer detriment.”
The association stresses that an urgent, realistic fee adjustment is critical not only to protect testing infrastructure, but to safeguard the UK’s road safety record.
7 comments
I own a motorcycle test station I opened in 2010, at that time the test was £29.65, and it still is today. My rent on the building was £550.00 per month and is now around £1,500.00 per month. Our wage bill has also doubled and the utilities are through the roof.
Yet no increase. It’s high time that this is addressed.
MOT’s are now a loss on our normal hourly rate.
We also own a motorcycle test station which we opened in 2010 when the fee was £29.65 and as you say still is the same today but the same as you all our out goings have increased why didn’t the MOT FEE go up each year by the inflation rate as other costs and services have the value of £29.65 in 2010 would now be £49.33 .
So class 1 & 2 also need to be included in the discussions as the only class I keep reading about is class 4
Completely agree with the two comments above. We have been a motorcycle test station since 2013 – where else is a business expected to do the same job for the same rate 13 years later? Except that it isn’t the same job, we’ve had to invest in connected testing equipment, continuous tester training, rising external costs of equipment calibration, not to mention our own increased overheads.
Can the IGA please ensure that all classes are included in the review, as the same cost pressures apply to all MOT businesses.
Thank you for all the valid comments on class 1 and 2 testing. It’s something we raised directly with the IGA, voicing your concerns, and I’m pleased to say that the IGA has confirmed all classes will be discussed during the IGA’s DfT talks. We’ve got more on that here: https://garagematters.uk/exclusive-all-mot-classes-included-in-dft-talks-iga-confirms/
The cost of an mot should be reviewed after so long and also should be a set price with no discount just like a pass port.
an mot is the law and there fore should not be sold as a competive product.
The maximum fee definitely needs to rise. At the moment we lose money by carrying of MOTs and yet the demand for them is the same. If nothing changes in the next 5 years we will most likely pack up shop, and then where will the 1500 MOTs we carry out a year go.
If anyone is interested I started a petition to raise the cap. Let’s keep this conversation going
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/776727?utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demone0d4qyf&fbclid=IwY2xjawT1IZZwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4Jz-my7lQ5h7yB-XXQEhdkrTvppwF_GNG_1cUu-UpVjVkq7dr9krSh2Oai9Q_aem_dM2FfKQ2Lst5yf7wlWB7KQ
There should be a higher price cap. About £75 is ideal and also a minimum charge of £50. Or even better a set fee that is fixed for MOT’s and a set fee for a retest. I personally will recommend adding the fee into the road-tax and when a vehicle comes for an MOT once the MOT is done the DVSA pays the garage directly. No more slots none sense , no more garages using MOTs as a bait and undercutting everyone else.