Fleets and drivers could face a severe shortage of MOT testing slots and escalating vehicle downtime unless the MOT fee is increased, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) has
Fleets and drivers could face a severe shortage of MOT testing slots and escalating vehicle downtime unless the MOT fee is increased, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) has warned.
The industry body said that 16 years of flat fees, combined with recent record inflation, have pushed independent garages to a breaking point.
Ahead of its upcoming talks with the Government, the IGA has said the MOT fee needs to almost double to £95 to ensure that running an MOT testing bay remains financially viable for independent garages amid soaring operational costs.
Currently capped at £54.85, the MOT fee has remained unchanged since 2010 and industry leaders warn that cumulative inflation, skyrocketing energy bills and necessary technical training have made the current fee structurally unsustainable.
Stuart James, chief executive of the IGA, 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.”
A recent survey of IGA members demonstrates strong support across the independent garage sector for an increase to the MOT fee. Garages have also been clear about the commercial pressures they are facing. Comments from IGA members indicate that a growing number are already reducing MOT capacity.
Furthermore, the rapid evolution of vehicle technology requires heavy, ongoing capital investment. Mechanics must be continually trained, and workshops upgraded, to safely handle electric vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
The IGA warned that if the MOT fee continues to fall behind the true cost of delivering the test, the consequences will increasingly be felt by motorists through reduced availability, fewer testing appointments and ultimately less consumer choice.
The trade association added: “For every day that the MOT fee remains at its current level, the problem is escalating, with the potential to create serious challenges for motorists in terms of availability and consumer choice as garages are forced to reduce the capacity of the MOT testing bays they operate.
“The MOT fee needs to be increased urgently to ensure that roads in the UK continue to remain amongst the safest in the world.”
In response to the escalating crisis, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has announced it is partnering with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to host an urgent industry round table on 21 October 2026.
The collaborative event will bring together trade associations, road safety organisations and other stakeholders to discuss the economic challenges currently faced by MOT garages, as well as the increasing requirement for investment in equipment and skills for new automotive technologies such as EVs and ADAS.
The aim of the round table is to identify an effective solution that is fair for MOT garages and fair for motorists.
Ahead of hosting the round table, the IMI plans to survey its members on the current pressures affecting investment in equipment and training for MOT services.
Nick Connor, CEO of the IMI said: “The MOT test is fundamental to road safety and it is critical that it remains accessible to motorists. However, with MOT garages increasingly facing greater demands, such as the EV mileage checks when the Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) comes into force in 2028, a review of MOT fees is urgently overdue.
“Last changed in 2010, the fee structure has clearly not kept pace with the costs faced by MOT garages, from cumulative inflation and rising energy bills to equipment costs and critical technician training. By hosting the round table our goal is to provide a forum for all parts of the sector to discuss the cost pressures faced by MOT garages alongside motorists’ expectations and to identify the best solution.”
