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Why You Should Book Your MOT Check Early

An MOT check is vital for road and car safety as it ensures your vehicle is roadworthy and safe to operate. However, getting an MOT check might become challenging in light of the 2020 MOT extension. Whilst it was probably the right call at the time, the effects are ongoing and not only impacting motorists but garages as well.

MOT Extension

To help curb the spread of Covid-19, the government announced a 6-month MOT exemption last year to vehicles requiring an MOT check between 30 March and 31 July 2020.  The temporary MOT extension applied to cars, vans and motorcycles. The extension created extremely high demand for MOTs between September and December, which will be repeated this autumn and winter.

At this point, more drivers will be looking to book an MOT test which will result in record numbers from September onwards. Garage owners also felt the initial pinch as they performed far fewer MOT checks than normal. Now, there’s a petition to correct the ongoing effects of last year’s six-month MOT exemption.

What Is The Purpose Of The MOT Petition?

Experts predict that work shortages will be repeated every spring and summer for many years to come. The MOT petition is an attempt to address the unintended consequences and suggests that the government should “produce a sector-specific financial support package to safeguard the future of jobs and businesses across the motor trade”.

When the government implemented the MOT extension, the Independent Garage Association gave a stern warning that it could have a significant impact down the line. They said would have a detrimental impact on the independent sector which performs more than 80% of the UK’s 30 million annual MOT checks.

The petition must reach 10,000 signatures before 17 November for an official government response. Only when it reaches 100,000 signatures will it be considered for debate in Parliament. You can also have a say by signing the petition here.

Avoid The Rush And Book Your MOT Test Now

Customers whose MOT is due from September onwards should book an MOT test as soon as they can to beat the mad MOT rush. The rush expected has even been referred to as “Super September.” Autumn and winter will be exceptionally busy as lots of motorists who were granted an MOT exemption will have expiry dates in the autumn and winter.

Experts predict a rise in demand of up to 50% which could create backlogs and delays if not handled properly. With so many more cars needing an MOT, we highly recommend that anyone with an MOT due in autumn should book their MOT test early.

According to research, 40% of MOT customers prefer visiting a garage they’ve used before and 83% will choose the same garage to perform any repairs. If we can encourage our customers with an MOT due date in autumn to book early, we can put a plan in place to help as many as we can.

Did You Know You Can Have Your MOT One Month Early?

Many don’t realise that you can get your MOT up to one month (minus 1 day) before the expiry date and still keep the same renewal date. For example, if your MOT runs out on 15th September, you could get your MOT as early as 16th August and still keep the same renewal date. This means your MOT is effectively valid for 13 months and customers could take advantage of this to avoid the MOT rush.

Benefits Of An MOT Check

If you own a car in the UK older than three years, you are legally required to conduct an MOT check from a DVSA-approved centre. At Elite Garages, we believe an MOT check and vehicle service is the best (and only) way to ensure your car is safe and roadworthy. Here are some of the benefits of a regular MOT check:

  • With many motorists only servicing their car when something breaks, the MOT forces them to get their cars checked once a year
  • Although an MOT may not go through every aspect of the vehicle, it does enough to ensure overall car safety
  • It can detect underlying issues before they become serious and expensive
  • It helps keep CO2 emissions to a minimum
  • An MOT check gives you complete peace of mind knowing you and your family are as safe as can be

Recommended: ‘FAQ And Answers About An MOT’

What Happens If You Don’t Have An MOT Certificate?

Besides risking your safety and putting others in harm’s way, there are some serious consequences of not having a valid MOT certificate. It’s illegal to drive on public roads without an MOT certificate unless you can prove you are driving to an MOT or service centre. Here is what can happen if you are caught driving without an MOT:

  • A fixed penalty notice of £100 but it can go up to £1,000 if the case goes to court, you continue to drive without an MOT or don’t pay the fine
  • If your vehicle has faults that make it unroadworthy, you could face a much larger fine and points on your licence
  • When there’s an issue with your brakes, steering or tyres, you could be fined £2,500 and your vehicle may be taken away
  • It can also invalidate your insurance

Recommended: ‘How To Pass Your MOT The First Time’

Book Your MOT Check With Elite Garages

Considering 1 in 10 cars have a serious fault making them dangerous to drive, it’s important to get your MOT when it’s due. As our service centres are DVSA accredited, we can perform an MOT check and a service if your vehicle requires any repairs.

Unsure about your MOT? You can check your MOT history and more information about the end of the exemption on the government website. You can also sign up for the Elite Member’s Club to receive free MOT check reminders.

We are open and ready to do your MOT check so Book your MOT now! to beat the rush and make sure your vehicle is safe to drive. Don’t delay, book today!