MOT
As another example of how the way we are doing business nowadays has been changed by the COVID pandemic, a survey carried out by the Independent Garage Association (IGA) has revealed that 88 per cent of independent garages are currently offering an MOT collection and delivery service for clinically extremely vulnerable and self-isolating people.
Today (Monday 11 January 2021), the DVSA updated its MOT guidance to clarify that “MOT centres can stay open in all areas of Great Britain, including during the national lockdown in England, the temporary lockdown in Scotland, and all of Wales in alert level 4 (lockdown)”. The same guidance always specifies that motorists are still required to get an MOT and there is no MOT exemption this time. As a result, garages across the UK should ensure that customers know that tyre fitting, vehicle repair and MOT services are permitted during the latest lockdown restrictions. At the same time, motorists need to know that there is no MOT exemption.
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has launched its MOT Training and Assessment package for 2021. With a focus on e-Learning, the three-hour training also gives technicians the opportunity to retake the assessment up to three times if they’re not happy with their score on first or second attempt.
It isn’t news to say that the tyre and autocentre sector is becoming an increasingly technological business. However, two recent trends confirm the need for garages to be properly equipped – increasing electric vehicle take-up and, in the short term, booming MOT demand.
In January 2019, we predicted a 5 per cent increase in MOTs during the course of the year. One calculation suggested this would work out as 2.6 million extra MOT tests during 2019, which equates to something like 50 extra MOTs per site per month. The latest DVSA numbers suggest that MOTs actually went up by an estimated 6.2 per cent last year, rising from 29.560 million in 2018 to 31.405 million last year. So far DVSA have only released data relating to the first nine months of 2019, so the final figure could go down, but in all likelihood it now looks like 5 per cent was a conservative estimate.
It isn’t news to say that the tyre and autocentre sector is becoming an increasingly technological business. However, two recent trends confirm the need for garages to be properly equipped – increasing electric vehicle take-up and, in the short term, booming MOT demand.
This article, including a chart to support the analysis, appears in full in the November edition of Tyres & Accessories magazine. Not yet a subscriber? You can change that here.
With the clocks going back soon, it’s time for workshops to think of the products that will sell most at this time. Wiper blades are one such candidate. Following the long, bright summer, UV rays from the sun could have damaged blade rubber, so these need to be checked to ensure they’re in optimum condition. Indeed, a poll commissioned by Halfords found that 6.5 million cars are being driven by motorists with faulty wiper blades.
As the UK went into lockdown earlier in the year in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Government announced an extension to the MOT period, giving motorists up to an additional six months before their vehicle had to undergo its yearly ‘health check’ for roadworthiness. The inevitable result of this has seen a backlog of vehicles awaiting testing and an unprecedented number of MOTs now on the horizon, despite advice and warnings from the trade and authorities not to leave things to the last minute.
We have all read dire warnings in the press and online about the possible implications of the six-month extension to MOTs and of possible bottlenecks and logjams as everybody leaves it to the last minute to get their vehicles tested. As lockdown measures ease, the demand for routine servicing, repairs and MOTs is already dramatically increasing. Yuasa are encouraging garages to introduce a simple battery check as part of their MOT and service schedules to identify if the vehicle’s battery has been damaged due to reduced usage. At the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, it is estimated that around 70 per cent of the UK’s cars remained immobile.
The majority of car owners have taken advantage of the six-month extension announced by the government in March to delay getting an MOT, according to a YouGov poll commissioned by The Motor Ombudsman. The study of 765 individuals in Great Britain, who have a car of three or more years of age, and that had an existing MOT certificate expiring between 30 March and 31 July 2020, revealed that 56 per cent had exercised their right to prolong taking their vehicle to a garage for the compulsory annual test.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is encouraging motorists to get their delayed MOT test done this summer ahead of a surge in demand in the Autumn. The projections, based on due dates and vehicle MOT expiry dates, show that demand for MOTs will be at around 3.4 million in September, 4.8 million in October and November and 4.2 million in December. This demand is predicted to be around double the normal volumes (approx. 2.5 million per month). However, August demand is predicted to be just over 2 million MOTs, which is fewer than usual.
A leading motoring solicitor has urged motorists not to forget to MOT their vehicles this month as the lockdown-related extension period ends on 1 August 2020. When the COVID-19 lockdown was introduced the government announced it was waiving the requirement for MOT tests for six months, extending the MOT certificates of cars due to be tested between 30 March 2020 and 29 March 2021, making them valid for 18 months rather than 12.
Together, the increased utilisation of independent contractors on the supply side and record online search figures on the demand side show that MOT testing is booming. Considering that MOTs were put on hold for roughly four-and-a-half months between March and August (let’s not even mention the Northern Ireland MOT crisis), this is good news. Word of a coming MOT spike will be warmly welcomed by the tyre and aftermarket associations that lobbied government for the end of the MOT extension on both road safety and economic grounds. But what exactly does the apparent boom look like? And why does it matter to the tyre trade?
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) welcomed the end of the MOT extension period on 1 August. The federation argues that the move will not only significantly increase road safety but will give a much-needed boost to the automotive sector overall.
Steve Nash, CEO of The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has welcomed the return of mandatory MOT testing from 1 August. “The exemption from mandatory MOT testing announced at the end of March made sense at that time. But our sector moved very quickly to ensure it could work safely and support motorists during the lockdown,” he said.
Following the news that the MOT test will be reinstated from 1 August following a coronavirus-induced hiatus, NTDA chief executive expressed delight that the government listened to the tyre trade:
StockSnap; Pixabay
TechMan
IMI
S. Hermann & F. Richter; Pixabay
Trico
Klarius
Motor Ombudsman
Ryan Doka; Pixabay
Autotech
IAAF