The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has renewed its call on the government to increase the MOT fee cap.
The call follows the IGA’s meeting with officials from the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on 24 September, where the IGA set out the growing financial pressures facing independent garages and the urgent need to address the MOT fee cap, which has remained unchanged since 2010.
The IGA wants the MOT fee cap to be increased to at least £95.
Stuart James, chief executive of the IGA said: “The IGA has made its position clear to Government, and we are grateful to officials at the DfT and DVSA for engaging with us.
“However, following our discussions, we believe the time has now come for this issue to receive the direct ministerial attention it deserves.
“The MOT fee has been frozen since 2010, while the cost of running a garage and carrying out an MOT has risen significantly.
“Our members are telling us that they are reaching the point where they can no longer absorb these rising costs and still make MOT testing commercially viable.”
“We are therefore asking the Transport Minister to meet with us as a matter of urgency. We want to work constructively with Government to find a solution, but the current situation cannot simply be allowed to drift.
“Our message is straightforward – the MOT fee needs to increase to at least £95, and it needs to happen before further testing capacity is lost.
“Every month that passes without action increases the pressure on the businesses delivering this essential service. We now need Government to recognise the urgency of the situation and engage with us directly on how it will be resolved.”
