Matt Wrankmore, Head of Garage Network at FixMyCar, looks at the recent concerning statistics around the MOT, with many drivers not understanding the importance of the annual test.
Do UK drivers have an MOT problem? It certainly seems that way. Recent research found that almost 35,000 UK drivers were caught driving without an MOT last year, collectively racking up more than £3.5 million in fines. This is not the only time we have heard troubling statistics around UK motor tests. Research earlier this year found that six in ten drivers are unsure when a new vehicle first needs an MOT, more than half don’t fully understand what the test even covers, and almost a third prefer to just “leave it to the garage”.
The lack of concern with which many drivers approach their annual test is a serious problem. It is not just a case of avoiding fines – confusion around MOTs increases danger on the roads and additionally risks lumping drivers with unnecessary costs.
As an industry, we need to step up and address the MOT problem. It is crucial we find a way to educate drivers and improve industry-wide communication, so every generation of drivers has access to clear information. Improving knowledge is essential in not only keeping roads safe but improving the relationship between driver and garage.
MOT knowledge quickly fades
The fact that MOT questions are part of the UK’s driving theory test shows how important knowledge of the annual test is to road safety. But for many drivers, the test they took to gain their provisional licence is but a distant memory. With no obligation to refresh this knowledge further down the line, MOT awareness quickly fades.
This lack of awareness means many drivers are blithely buying and using vehicles with no real understanding of their roadworthiness. A 2021 AA poll of 15,000 drivers found that only around half of drivers carry out MOT and service history checks before buying a used car, and two in five say they do not feel at all confident judging a car’s mechanical condition before buying.
Missed checks are a significant safety risk
Missed MOT checks put both compliance and vehicle safety at risk. One in six drivers who did not act on advisory notices in the last 12 months (an estimated six million people) went on to experience a vehicle breakdown, or were involved in a collision as a result, the RAC recently reported.
Drivers who miss checks and unknowingly operate vehicles with serious problems – or who have a check but due to a lack of understanding do not take advisories seriously – greatly increase the safety risk to themselves and other drivers.
Missed checks can also cause big compliance issues for businesses, who are liable for all vehicles used for work purposes, even if an employee is using their own car. However, around one third (31%) of employees who use their private car for business-related journeys say they have not been asked to show a valid certificate to their employer. It seems business owners are compounding the UK’s MOT problem.
Confusion ramps up costs
MOT confusion can also make car maintenance much more expensive than it needs to be. When drivers do not understand basic requirements, they may be vulnerable to paying for unnecessary work.
For businesses who are conscious of costs in a tough economic climate (the UK is set to experience the highest inflation among G7 nations this year), paying any more than necessary is disastrous even as a one-off, let alone consistently.
Then there is the aspect of last-minute costs: if drivers are not fully on top of their car maintenance, relying on garage knowledge only to steer them through, they are likely to need more last-minute, more extensive repairs that involve costly rush fees and more intensive work. Playing catch-up with your car is both expensive and unsafe.
Rebuilding the driver-mechanic relationship
The partnership between informed drivers and skilled mechanics is what keeps the MOT system working effectively. So when drivers lack key knowledge, this relationship begins to break down.
Garages – but also businesses right across the automotive sector – need to find a way to improve communication and messaging around MOTs and instil drivers with greater confidence and trust.
We have a responsibility to educate drivers, so the majority are not confused about when a vehicle first needs an MOT – or what a test actually covers. Clearer, more accessible, non-intimidating MOT information (government websites are useful but can be daunting) will go a long way in helping drivers take control of car safety, reducing the risks and costs associated with unreliable cars.
The lack of MOT knowledge among drivers and business owners should be a wake-up call for the industry. This issue is not just an individual driver problem: a lax approach risks the safety of all on the roads, as well as straining the important relationship between driver and mechanic.
Engaging and educating drivers, not only on the importance of MOT checks but also test specifics, is crucial for the wellbeing of businesses and drivers across the UK.
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