The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) is adding its voice to calls for an increase in the MOT fee, as part of a wider campaign to support modernising the annual test, alongside improving industry standards and right to repair for the independent aftermarket.
The current MOT fee cap is set at £54.85, with workshops unable to charge over this. However, the cap has remained frozen since 2010, despite changes in vehicle technology, and overall economics.
This figure is set far below the worth of the significant time and investment workshops put in to carry out the modern MOT.
Industry takes control with MOT fee talk
“The MOT test fee has remained frozen since 2010, despite the exponential growth of in-vehicle technology and related safety systems,” commented IAAF Chief Executive Mark Field. “In line with inflation alone, the test fee should now sit at around £90.”
“If we are serious about ensuring vehicles stay roadworthy and emissions stay within safe limits, the fee must be increased. This will allow testing stations to continue delivering high standards and invest in the equipment and training needed to test today’s increasingly complex vehicle systems.”
The IAAF’s stance on the MOT fee comes after the Independent Garage Association (IGA) called for a review into the situation earlier this year. The industry association met with the government to discuss the matter.
With the MOT having been subject to government interference throughout the last decade, the aftermarket being proactive and taking control of the topic is a welcome change.
Modern cars, modern MOT?
The IAAF also supports proposals to modernise the MOT, including the testing of exhaust particulate levels from both petrol and diesel vehicles, as well as functional checks on ADAS technologies within cars. Now commonplace in many vehicles, these systems are crucial to reducing accidents and improving road safety.
According to DVSA forecasts, MOT volumes are expected to rise by 16% in September 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, putting further pressure on testing stations.
“The independent automotive aftermarket is changing rapidly and challenging outdated perceptions, thereby resetting its contract with the motorist,” Field added. “There is a much wider issue than just the MOT fee, but an increase would further support the role the independent aftermarket plays in keeping the UK motoring public and millions of businesses moving on daily basis.
“It would bring into sharper focus the value and purpose of the MOT test and why its annual test frequency is critical in ensuring safer roads and improved air quality, through annual testing of a vehicle’s emissions and safety systems.”
