Garage owners called upon to give evidence on MOT fee freeze issues ahead of crunch meeting

Garage owners are being called upon to provide “critical input” on the long-standing MOT fee freeze and the financial impact of the recent Autumn Budget ahead of crunch talks between industry heads and the government.

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) will discuss these pressing issues at a meeting on 11 March, with officials from the office of Lilian Greenwood MP. The IGA is keen to present evidence on how these financial constraints are affecting businesses across the sector.

It claims that the government’s MOT fee freeze has placed “mounting financial pressure” on independent garages, exacerbated by increasing operational costs and the impact of new financial measures introduced in the Autumn Budget..

The meeting, therefore, “represents a crucial opportunity” to ensure policymakers understand the impact these factors have on independent garages nationwide, it said.

Jonathan Douglass, IGA director, added: “This is an important opportunity to make our collective voice heard at the highest levels. The MOT fee freeze and increasing financial pressures are unsustainable for independent garages, and we need real-world data to support our case. Your input will help us advocate for meaningful change.”

The IGA is seeking data and insights from businesses on the following topics:

• The rising costs of operating an MOT station since 2010, including equipment, training, and maintenance expenses.
• Increases in overhead costs, utilities, and insurance.
• Salary increases for MOT testers and staff since 2010.
• The financial impact of the National Insurance increase in April.
• The effect of minimum wage increases from April.
• Any other relevant financial or operational challenges impacting independent garages.

Douglass added: “We have reached out to our members and the response so far has been overwhelming. The challenges faced by independent garages are significant, and this meeting is a critical step toward addressing these issues. We appreciate the support and urge everyone to contribute their insights to strengthen our case.”

Businesses are encouraged to submit their data and insights by 5 March, to IGAcomms@rmif.co.uk. All information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence and anonymised where necessary, it said.