Andy Burnham has been warned about the risks of increasing MOT test fees as campaigners push for the Prime Minister to raise costs. MOT tests are currently capped at £54.85 per year, but the Independent Garage Association (IGA) is demanding that the maximum charge is increased. The IGA has suggested a new £95 fee is needed, with garages battling rising overhead costs and MOT rates remaining frozen since 2010.

​Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com has suggested the move could backfire, with drivers already “watching every penny” to stay on the roads. He pointed out that new research shows drivers were already paying out well over £100 to get their car through an MOT test once repairs picked up in the exam are carried out.

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He said: “If the price rises, some drivers might be tempted to delay their test, or try to avoid it with a fake certificate. But driving with a fake or invalid MOT could mean a fine of up to £1,000, as well as possible insurance problems.

“The bigger concern is safety. The MOT test checks key parts such as brakes, tyres, steering and suspension, so a genuine certificate protects you and everyone else on the road.”

Stuart James, Chief Executive of the Independent Garage Association, previously said: “The MOT fee has been frozen since 2010, while the cost of running a garage and carrying out an MOT has risen significantly. Our members are telling us that they are reaching the point where they can no longer absorb these rising costs and still make MOT testing commercially viable.”

Andy Burnham Warned Over New MOT Test Fee Hike as Drivers Already Face £111 Bills

British motorists are facing renewed debate over the cost of keeping their vehicles roadworthy, after a motoring industry campaign called for a substantial increase in the maximum fee for an MOT test. The proposal has put Prime Minister Andy Burnham under pressure to consider the competing demands of garages struggling with rising operating costs and drivers already dealing with expensive fuel, insurance and vehicle repairs.

The controversy centres on a proposal from the Independent Garage Association (IGA) to raise the maximum fee for a standard car MOT from £54.85 to £95. The current limit has remained unchanged since 2010, according to reporting by AOL. However, motoring experts have warned that a steep increase could leave some motorists struggling to afford an essential safety check. AOL report, 13 October 2026.

The £111 figure mentioned in the debate refers to reported average spending once booking costs and repairs are included. It is not the official price of an MOT test, and it should not be confused with the maximum statutory fee.

Why are garages calling for higher MOT fees?

MOT testing is a legal requirement for most cars once they reach three years old, with tests normally required every year thereafter. The examination checks whether a vehicle meets minimum roadworthiness and environmental standards.

For drivers, the test can be an unwelcome annual expense. For garages, however, carrying out MOT inspections involves trained staff, specialist equipment, premises, maintenance and compliance with government requirements.

The IGA argues that the maximum permitted fee has failed to keep pace with rising costs. Since the cap was set in 2010, garages have faced changes in wages, energy prices, equipment costs and other business expenses. Industry representatives say that increasing the maximum charge would help testing centres remain financially viable and continue providing services to motorists.

The proposed £95 fee would represent an increase of £40.15 compared with the current maximum of £54.85. That is an increase of approximately 73 per cent.

For an individual driver, the difference could be significant, particularly when several household vehicles need annual inspections. For garages, supporters of the proposal argue that the higher limit would give businesses more room to cover the cost of delivering a regulated service.

But an increase in the legal maximum would not necessarily mean every garage would charge £95. Testing stations can charge less than the permitted ceiling, and actual prices vary between providers.

The debate therefore raises a broader question: should the maximum fee reflect the industry’s changing costs, or should the government prioritise keeping compulsory vehicle checks affordable?

Drivers are already paying more than the test fee

The pressure on motorists does not end when the inspection is completed. A vehicle may pass without significant problems, but a failed test can lead to additional repair bills.

A report by AOL cited research from Confused.com suggesting that drivers spend an average of £111 on their MOT once booking fees and repairs are taken into account. The report also said that almost one in ten drivers surveyed had postponed an MOT because of its cost.

These figures need to be understood in context. The £111 is a reported average associated with the wider testing experience, not a government-set fee that every motorist must pay. Individual costs can be much lower or considerably higher, depending on the vehicle’s condition and the repairs required.

A car with worn tyres, defective brakes, suspension problems or faulty lights may require work before it can pass. Some defects are relatively inexpensive to correct, while others can involve hundreds of pounds.

For households already struggling with the cost of living, an unexpected repair can disrupt monthly budgets. A driver who needs a vehicle to reach work, transport children or care for relatives may have little choice but to pay for repairs quickly.

That is why critics of a higher MOT cap argue that the proposal should not be considered in isolation. Even if the testing fee rises to help garages cover their costs, motorists will still face the financial consequences of maintaining older vehicles.

The warning for Andy Burnham

As Prime Minister, Andy Burnham faces competing pressures over transport costs, household finances and the sustainability of small businesses. The MOT fee debate is another example of the difficult choices governments encounter when a regulated price has remained unchanged for years.

Drivers may ask why they should pay substantially more for a test that has not changed in price for more than a decade. Garage owners, meanwhile, may argue that keeping a price frozen indefinitely is not a realistic way to maintain a reliable testing network.

The government would need to consider whether the proposed increase is justified by the industry’s costs, how it might affect drivers on lower incomes and whether alternative measures could help testing centres without imposing the full burden on motorists.

There is also a road-safety dimension. An MOT is designed to identify defects that could endanger drivers, passengers and other road users. If higher costs encourage some motorists to delay testing, the result could undermine the purpose of the system.

That does not mean every driver would postpone an MOT after a price increase. But affordability is relevant to compliance, particularly for people who depend on older cars and have limited access to public transport.

A government response could therefore involve examining the proposed fee alongside the wider cost of vehicle ownership, rather than treating the maximum charge as a question affecting garages alone.

What is the official MOT price?

The current government guidance lists the maximum fee for a standard car MOT at £54.85. The cap applies in England, Scotland and Wales. A testing station may charge less, but it cannot charge more than the statutory maximum for the relevant vehicle class. The official guidance also confirms that VAT is not payable on the MOT test fee. GOV.UK: MOT test fees.

The government has not simply replaced this standard car fee with a £95 charge. The £95 figure is an industry proposal reported in the media, rather than a confirmed new maximum for ordinary car MOTs.

Other vehicle categories have different maximum fees. For example, motorcycles and larger passenger or goods vehicles are subject to their own fee limits. Special arrangements may also apply to certain commercial vehicle tests.

Drivers should therefore check the official fee guidance and ask their chosen garage for a breakdown of any additional charges. A garage’s advertised price may include optional services or repairs, which should be distinguished from the test itself.

Being clear about the difference can help motorists avoid confusing a proposed policy change with a charge already in force.

Could higher prices encourage drivers to delay their tests?

The principal concern raised by motoring experts is that a more expensive test could make some motorists hesitate when their MOT renewal approaches.

Driving without a valid MOT certificate when one is required can lead to enforcement action. There are limited exceptions, including certain journeys to a pre-arranged test or to a place of repair, subject to the applicable rules. A vehicle must still be roadworthy, and drivers should not assume that an appointment permits them to use an unsafe car.

The risk extends beyond the possibility of a penalty. An MOT is not a guarantee that a vehicle will remain safe for an entire year, but it provides an important inspection of specified components and helps identify defects that need attention.

If a driver delays testing because of the cost, faults may go unnoticed for longer. A problem with tyres, brakes or steering can put the driver and other road users at risk.

For this reason, affordability and road safety should be considered together. A price that helps garages maintain qualified staff and equipment may support the quality of inspections, but a price that some motorists struggle to afford could create a different problem.

The challenge is to find a balance that supports the testing industry without making compliance unnecessarily difficult.

Some motorists want less frequent testing

The debate over the cost of MOTs also raises questions about whether annual testing is the right approach for every vehicle.

Research cited in the AOL report suggested that more than one in six respondents thought an MOT should be required only every two years to reduce costs. Supporters of less frequent testing may argue that many modern vehicles are reliable and that annual inspections create a recurring expense for owners.

However, a vehicle’s condition can deteriorate between inspections, and age alone does not determine whether a car is safe. Tyres, brakes, suspension, lights and other components can develop faults regardless of how recently a vehicle passed its last test.

Any change to testing frequency would therefore require careful consideration of road-safety evidence, vehicle reliability, maintenance habits and the possible consequences of identifying defects less often.

Reducing the frequency of testing might lower some costs for motorists, but it could also delay the discovery of certain problems. The right policy cannot be determined by price alone.

What happens next?

The proposed increase leaves the government with a choice between maintaining the existing cap and considering whether garages need greater flexibility to cover the costs of testing.

For motorists, the immediate position remains straightforward: the official maximum fee for a standard car MOT is £54.85, not £95. Drivers should not assume that the proposed increase has already become law.

The wider debate is unlikely to disappear. Garage operators want a testing system that remains financially sustainable, while drivers want to keep compulsory costs manageable. Both concerns matter because an MOT system must be accessible enough for people to comply with the law and robust enough to help keep unsafe vehicles off the road.

For Andy Burnham’s government, the issue illustrates how even a seemingly modest motoring regulation can have a direct effect on household finances. A decision to increase the cap would need to explain why the change is justified and how the consequences for drivers would be managed.

Until an official change is announced, motorists should rely on current government guidance rather than headlines suggesting that a new fee has already taken effect. The central question is not simply whether MOT tests should cost more, but how Britain can maintain effective vehicle inspections without placing an unreasonable burden on the people who rely on their cars every day.