MOT Industry Calls for Reduced MOT Test Fees

The MOT Trade Forum is urging the Minister of Transport, David Jamieson, to amend the MOT Test fee structure and introduce a reduced but mandatory fee and a new scale of re-test charges.

The Forum’s membership represents the interests of the country’s 19,500 MOT testing stations and has proposed a complete overhaul of the MOT Test fee structure that would both reward motorists who keep their vehicles in good condition and encourage those running badly maintained and potentially dangerous vehicles to improve their maintenance standards.

Benefits including road safety, improving MOT test quality and consistency and the ability of the industry to develop and train quality MOT Testing staff are listed amongst the MOT trade’s reasons for supporting the change. A discount off the current fee for the 65 per cent of motorists whose cars pass the MOT first time will ensure a fairer MOT testing regime says the group.

Commenting on these proposals MOT Trade Forum chairman Jim Punter said: “The MOT is the only statutory government service provided by third parties that is subject to discounting. Although most garages charge the full fee 80 per cent or more offer a free re-Test. Discounting costs about £17,000 a year for every testing station depriving them of funding for re-investment and to install the latest advanced MOT Test equipment.

“The government are very keen to improve the quality of MOT Testing in tandem with their own project to provide a computerised MOT Test. The Forum feels that this initiative will not only improve the quality of MOT Testing but will also serve to improve road safety and environmental standards too as vehicle emission testing is an important aspect of the MOT Test.”