MOT prices need to increase, warns IAAF
MOT prices need to rise to keep pace with inflation and their growing complexity, according to the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF).
It says MOTs need to evolve to reflect the technology within modern vehicles and ensure they remain roadworthy, and repairers should be paid more for carrying out these more sophisticated services.
Maximum fees
The maximum a repairer can charge for a car MOT is £54,85, but the IAAF believes this figure is now far too low for the significant time and investment needed to carry out a modern test.
Mark Field, IAAF chief executive, said: “The MOT test fee has remained frozen since 2010, despite the exponential growth of in-vehicle technology and related safety systems. In line with inflation alone, the test fee should now sit at around £90.
“If we are serious about ensuring vehicles stay roadworthy and emissions stay within safe limits, the fee must be increased. This will allow testing stations to continue delivering high standards and invest in the equipment and training needed to test today’s increasingly complex vehicle systems.”
MOT demand
According to DVSA forecasts, the number of MOTs are expected to rise by 16% in September compared to the same month last year, putting even more strain on repairers.
Field said: “The independent automotive aftermarket is changing rapidly and challenging outdated perceptions, thereby resetting its contract with the motorist.
“There’s a much wider issue than just the test fee, but an increase would further support the role the independent aftermarket plays in keeping the UK motoring public and millions of businesses moving on daily basis.
“It would bring into sharper focus the value and purpose of the MOT test and why its annual test frequency is critical in ensuring safer roads and improved air quality, through annual testing of a vehicle’s emissions and safety systems.”
