Drivers leaving MOT bookings too late
New data has revealed that the number of drivers making MOT bookings after its expiry data has risen 60%.
Research by BookMyGarage found that one year ago 10.3% of motorists did not book an MOT until after it had expired, but that figure has now risen to 16.6%.
Looking at data from 350,000 MOT bookings across the last 12 months, 13.4% let their MOTs expire before booking a renewal, while a further 4.3% made a booking before the expiry date but did not get a renewal before its due date.
Meanwhile, the proportion of motorists booking at least four weeks before their MOT due date fell from 59.3% to 38.1% year-on-year.
Chief marketing officer at BookMyGarage Jessica Ruddick said: “Obviously, the rising proportion of expired MOT bookings is cause for concern.
“There is a safety implication, but the findings also point to an opportunity for garages to address this in customer communications. MOT reminders sent well in advance of customers’ MOT due dates, encourage more timely bookings.
“Our data shows that motorists who received an MOT reminder were 55% less likely to have an expired MOT when arranging their next test, suggesting that forgotten deadlines and busy schedules may be just as important a factor as cost or reluctance to book.”
“Our data also shows that vehicles booked after their MOT has expired tend to be slightly older than those booked before the deadline, which typically means a higher frequency of advisory items and remedial work. That creates a valuable revenue opportunity for garages that can accommodate urgent bookings at short notice.”
