The current MOT fee was set on 6th April 2010 – over 15 years ago at the current cost of £54.85. After the DVSA cost of the £2.05 slot fee, this leaves just £52.80 received by MOT Test Stations for an MOT vehicle examination that can take up to an hour, or even more.
Are there any other costs of goods or services available anywhere now which are available at the same price as was the case in 2010? We can’t think of anything – can you? Have a look at these examples.
Comparative price rises since 2010
| Item / Service (Example) | 2010 Price | 2025 Price | % Increase | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT Test (Class 4) | £54.85 | £54.85 | 0% | Unchanged |
| Car Tyre (Mid-range brand) | £55–£60 | £110–£130 | +100–120% | Prices vary with size and brand |
| Car Battery (typical car) | £55–£60 | £120–£150 | +120–150% | — |
| Household Energy Bill (monthly) | ~£55 | £160–£170 | +200% | Energy crisis drove record rises |
| MOT + Basic Service Package | ~£55 | £140–£160 | +180–200% | Labour, oil & parts far higher |
| Monthly broadband/tel | ~£18* | £55 | +200% | *Was 3 months for this price |
Yet currently there are no formal plans by either the DVSA or the Department for Transport to provide Testing Stations with an increase to bring the MOT fee up to date regarding inflation over the last 15 years.
Dreaming
OK, let’s just dream awhile… Imagine that the fee is increased to account for inflation over those 15 years. If the MOT fee had simply tracked CPI (Consumer Prices Index) since 6 April 2010, today it would be £85.66 — an increase of about 62%.
Interestingly, £85.66 is not far off the current average hourly rate charged by the garage trade for servicing and repair work — although dealerships would probably be charging at a significantly higher rate.
Other costs
Of course, the cost of the MOT Tester’s time is not the only cost associated with running an MOT Testing Station. The cost of MOT equipment has further issues to be accounted for. The initial cost will carry a depreciation cost over time, for renewal of equipment as it deteriorates.
There’s also the lost opportunity cost from the investment that could have earned interest if used elsewhere – or, conversely, the bank interest cost if borrowed money is used to purchase the equipment, and sometimes the rental cost if the equipment isn’t purchased outright. Then there’s the cost to calibrate and maintain the equipment as required, plus new equipment requirements – the latest likely to be a compulsory video facility to prove a tested vehicle was actually in the Test lane.
There’s also the cost of the footprint of the Testing Lane which could perhaps be used for servicing or repair instead. Finally, there’s the cost of training – not just for new Testers, but also for the annual check that all Testers must pass to continue conducting MOT inspections.
Marketing benefits
Yet there are benefits as well. Being an MOT Testing Station can be seen as prestigious – a mark of having Government approval. Yet more often than not, Test Stations use the MOT as a ‘loss leader’ by offering motorists a significant discount from the Government’s formal price.
Discounting, however, is a two-edged sword. When the Government see a significant number of Testing Stations offering discounted MOTs, they quite reasonably respond to any pleas from the industry to increase the price by saying, “You don’t need a price increase – just stop discounting…”
It has always seemed strange to us that the Government, in the guise of both the Driver and Vehicle Services Agency (DVSA) and the Department for Transport, do not seem to see that by allowing discounting and not setting a fixed fee, they are effectively lowering the quality ethos of the British MOT Test — which almost certainly prevents perhaps hundreds of fatal road crashes every year.
It is quite common to see either a discounted fee advertised, or perhaps a free MOT inspection with every vehicle service.
The MOT Trade’s view
What do you, Testing Station owners, think?
- Would you prefer a fixed fee at a fair rate in line with not only retrieving your costs but also making a profit — which is fully aligned to the Government’s policy of increasing economic growth?
- Do you discount — if so, why?
- Do you think the MOT fee should be increased?
- What price do you think the MOT should be set at?
Please let us know — contact us at enquiries@motester.co.uk
