Andy Burnham urged to introduce £40 MOT fee increase

Andy Burnham has been told to increase the price of MOT tests immediately, with garages calling for a £40 increase to be passed onto customers. In the UK, garages are not allowed to charge more than £54.85 for an MOT exam due to thresholds set by the Government. The cap hasn’t increased in over 15 years, with the last change back in 2010.

However, the Independent Garage Association, a trade body supporting the UK garage sector, has stressed members want to see the average test fee significantly rise.

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The IGA has argued that inflation alone makes the current MOT fee unsustainable, with garages facing additional cost pressures around labour, rent, equipment and fuel. Meanwhile, increased fees around energy, compliance, administration and staff training mean garages are struggling financially.

The IGA has stressed that garages want to see the annual MOT fee rise to at least £95 per year in what would mark a £40 increase on the current costs.

Stuart James, chief executive of the Independent Garage Association, stressed that garages cannot sustain the ongoing “cost burden”.

He 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 IGA warned that keeping the MOT fee at the current level risked creating serious challenges for motorists.

They warned that road users could be affected by reduced availability, fewer testing appointments and ultimately less consumer choice if nothing is done. The calls are set to be a blow to cash-strapped road users who are already battling with a rising cost of ownership.

But the plan looks set to receive backing, with the IGA revealing that a recent survey of members demonstrated strong support across the independent garage sector for an increase to the MOT fee.