MOT Testing fees

As we have had a number of e-mails and letters about MOT Test fees, discounting and re-Test fees indicating that motorists are confused we hope this will clarify the situation.

Is a discounted MOT a good MOT?

The MOT Test is an extensive, controlled and explicitly laid down annual inspection of a vehicle's safety and emissions systems. The MOT fee reflects the time an MOT Tester is, on average, expected to take to complete an MOT Test.

For a long time the MOT Trade have urged the Government to set a fixed fee (and not allow discounting) to ensure that MOT garages are not tempted to ‘cut corners’ so that the inspection is not done properly. The Government have refused to do that, arguing that motorists should be able to benefit from competition between MOT garages. Theoretically then, all MOTs should be of the same quality and indeed some very good Testers can do a quick and thorough Test within the estimated average time and justify a discount.

However the Government’s agency VOSA only have limited resources to keep an eye on MOT garages to make sure that MOT Tests are carried out properly. So, as in any walk of life there is a likelihood that some Testers will be less conscientious than others, and that those which discount may be more tempted to ‘cut corners’ and thus offer an inferior MOT.

The effect of Computerisation
Since April 2005 the MOT has been computerised – a process which the Government expect to complete by the end of March 2006. Unfortunately, as often happens with Government computer projects the MOT computer is not as efficient or reliable as hoped for by the trade and has had the effect of increasing the time it takes to do an MOT Test – effectively it slows the Tester down.

For motorists this seems to be having two separate effects. On the one hand motorists have to wait longer for their MOT because it takes longer. On the other hand MOT garages find themselves less able to offer a discounted MOT. Self evidently the rather slow nature of the computerised MOT works against those effective, efficient and competent Testers who could complete a Test both quickly and properly (thus being able to offer a discount) but now have to spend time doing nothing waiting for the computer. In consequence motorists may find it more difficult to get a discounted MOT.

The MOT Test Fee
The MOT fee, which is reviewed and revised by the Government each year to take effect in August, is a set price for each different ‘class’ of vehicle. The fee for each class of vehicle is shown in a chart of MOT Fees on this website.

The MOT Re-Test fee
The fee set by the Government is just the same whether the vehicle is Tested for the first time that year, or has been returned to the MOT garage for a re-Test after failing on anything other than those items which appear on the 'Free Retest Items' list.

Normally an MOT failure (on other than 'Free Retest' item(s) ONLY) where the vehicle is taken away for repair, means that the garage is compelled by the regulations to carry out another complete inspection of the vehicle when it is brought back for re-Test.

Official FREE re-Tests
The are only two sets of re-Test circumstances where the price set by Government for a re-Test is zero – that is 'Free'.

1. If the vehicle has failed the MOT and is left at the Testing Station for repair and re-Test and does not leave the Testing Station, then the re-Test is free.

2. If the vehicle fails because of one or more items on the list of specific items (‘Free Retest Items’), provided the vehicle is returned for re-Test by the end of the next working day, then no fee applies.
NB. You must ensure your car is taken to the garage in time to be Tested before the end of the next working day. Arriving just as they close will mean you will be turned away and may end up paying for a full re-Test at a later date.

A 'Maximum' fee
The Government sets the MOT fee as a maximum fee from which MOT businesses can offer discounts to motorists if they so choose.

Customer confusion – and choice
Because the Government set the fee as a maximum, MOT garages use many different ways of offering motorists a discount on their MOTs. Some which you may find are:

"All re-Tests free” - this is an offer to do all re-Tests free of charge, even though the vehicle may have to be completely re-inspected. Generally garages will charge for the first MOT and then put a time limit on their offer. So if the offer is for, say, two weeks and the customer comes back three weeks later, then a full MOT fee will apply.

“All failures free” - this is rare these days, but is exactly what it says. There is no time limit or condition.

“£10 off all MOTs” (or some other discounted sum), or perhaps “All MOTs £38” - which is a straightforward discount. In other circumstances garages may offer a “free MOT with every service” for example.

Confusion arises with the free re-Test offer with a time limit. Motorists often think this is something to do with the official regulations and complain that a certain garage is in some way breaking the rules by only being able to offer a repair date after the “free re-Test” offer has expired.

These offers have nothing to do with the MOT regulations. Garages are fully entitled to make any offer they like, and put any conditions on that offer that they decide are appropriate, within the regulations set out above, and up to the set Maximum fee.

Note:
None of these commercial offers by individual Testing Stations has anything to do with the official regulations or the official price. If they want to, MOT garages can charge the full price for all MOTs, and all re-Tests (other than on official 'Free Re-Test items) where the vehicle is taken away after it has failed, and because of the nature of the failure, a full re-Test may have to be carried out. Alternatively they can offer any kind of discount system or offer that they like.

Finally…
The Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (VOSA), the Government Agency which regulates and oversees all MOT Testing have recently reviewed MOT re-Test regulations and the rules are set to change in August 2006. We will publish in full the effect of these changes on our website.

©Punters Publishing 2007