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A YouGov poll commissioned by The Motor Ombudsman has found that despite nearly 10 million MOT exemptions being issued, the majority (89%) of drivers said that they knew the expiry date of their vehicle’s annual certificate, an unexpected positive result from the extension. Conversely, the study highlighted that only around one in ten drivers (11%) were unable to recall the expiry date of their car’s MOT, thereby putting them at greater risk of incurring a £1,000 fine and invalidating their insurance.
Furthermore, when survey participants were asked about whether they were aware that the current rules regarding MOTs allow cars to be tested up to a month (minus a day) earlier than the deadline, nine in ten UK drivers polled stated that they already knew that this was a possibility.
With MOT volumes forecast to be much lower in April and May compared to the same months in 2020, according to the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), because of the knock-on effect of last year’s extension, this will serve as welcome news for service and repair businesses looking to drive footfall, if customers are “in the know” that they have an element of flexibility as to when they have their vehicle tested.
Another positive to be drawn from the findings of the latest Motor Ombudsman poll study is that over three quarters (81%) of UK drivers would feel comfortable taking their car to a garage for its MOT in person, thanks to the peace of mind provided by the extensive COVID-19 safety measures that workshops have been put in place since the start of the pandemic. The results also showed that male drivers (85%) are seemingly more at ease than female car owners (76%) about the prospect of visiting a garage, whilst only 12% of drivers overall explained that they would feel nervous if they were to take their vehicle to the test station themselves. Similarly, just 4% of respondents would opt to use a garage’s collection and delivery service, with this being a slightly more popular alternative for those who are retired (7%) or aged over 55 years (6%).
Commenting on the findings of the study, Bill Fennell, Managing Director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “With the six-month extension changing the natural rhythm of when people would have traditionally got their MOT done, it is encouraging to see that such an important annual assessment remains at the forefront of people’s minds and a key date in the diary for so many. Nevertheless, when our lives do return to some degree of normality in the coming months as lockdown restrictions are lifted, it’s still advisable for motorists to sign up for free MOT reminders and have the car’s documentation readily available to jog their memory if needed, so that they can make a booking ahead of time. The annual test is such a critical part of vehicle maintenance and staying safe and legal when at the wheel, so it really is a date that can’t be left to chance.”
