Motorcycle MOT prices could rise as IGA confirms all MOT fees are in crosshairs

Motorcycle MOT prices could be heading upwards after the Independent Garage Association (IGA) confirmed to Visordown that motorcycle testing is included in its push for a major increase to the MOT fee cap.

The clarification comes as the IGA escalated its campaign and callied for an urgent meeting with the Transport Minister. That request comes after talks with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) officials failed to resolve its concerns over the cost of carrying out MOT tests.

The IGA wants the MOT fee cap increased to at least £95, arguing that the current system has become increasingly difficult for independent garages to operate profitably. Importantly for bikers, the association has now confirmed that its case for increasing the fee covers all classes of MOT, including motorcycles.

It’s important to note that this doesn’t not mean a motorcycle MOT is about to become a £95 annual test. The current maximum charge for a standard motorcycle MOT is £29.65, while a motorcycle with a sidecar is capped at £37.80. Those maximum fees have been unchanged since April 2010.

Instead, the IGA is calling for the Government to review the fee structure across the MOT system. Exactly how any increase would be applied to individual vehicle classes, including motorcycles, remains to be established.

The association says the problem is becoming more pressing because garages are increasingly having to decide whether providing MOT tests is commercially viable. With workshop space capable of generating more income through repair and servicing work, the IGA says some businesses are already reducing their MOT capacity.

That could eventually have an impact on motorcyclists, particularly in areas where there are already relatively few garages equipped and authorised to carry out motorcycle MOTs. Fewer testing slots could mean longer waits for appointments and less choice over where a bike is tested.

Stuart James, Chief Executive of the IGA, said the MOT fee has been frozen since 2010 while the costs associated with running a garage and carrying out tests have increased significantly.

The IGA says its members are reaching the point where they can no longer absorb those costs while continuing to offer MOT testing at the current fee levels. It is therefore asking for a meeting with the Transport Minister to discuss how the fee cap can be increased.

When that happens and by how much it increases remains to be seen.

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