Car Mechanics (UK)

MOT holiday

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The news of the Government announcing a MOT holiday during the pandemic was a pragmatic move. It gave people breathing space to focus on more important issues at that time. But taking a MOT holiday wasn’t a mandatory instructio­n; MOT stations and workshops could legally stay open, and many intended to. Sadly, you give motorists margins and they use them up.

We had one elderly customer, who remained fully active during the lockdown and who was insisting on having his car MOT’D as per usual because he was still regularly using it. We advised him that the option was there to self-isolate and take advantage of the extension (he was concerned about taxing it), but at the same time, we’d gladly collect and MOT his car. And so it was agreed.

Then, the day before the appointmen­t, he cancelled. He’d worked out that we wouldn’t be issuing an 18-month MOT. And that it was not economical­ly sensible to spend £40 on a 12-month MOT now when in October he could spend £40 and get a 12-month MOT then. He pointed out to me that it was a waste of £20.

Given the current climate, you couldn’t really argue against it, other than to say, come October, MOT stations will be chock-ablock and will be for years to come. Good luck getting a timely repair if your car happens to fail.

The other thing I pointed out, particular­ly to this customer, was that his car was 15 years old. An MOT is a safety inspection. If he has an accident and the car is found to be unsafe, that £20 could become the best money he’d ever spent. I’d not want to be the person

Come October, MOT stations will be chock-a-block and will be for years to come...

to test the legitimacy of bumping a car with a MOT holiday on it.

Sadly, it didn’t sway him. At this point, the MOT station temporaril­y closed and furloughed a tester because demand fell away. The trade continued to send a handful of cars through and I sent two of my own – they got more attention than a baby. Getting them tested the same time next year will now be a breeze.

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