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Mot Testing Stations Under Threat #

Posted by Keith Simpson on March 24, 2014, 1:03 pm
Edited by board administrator March 25, 2014, 2:53 pm

There's a proposed EU law attacking the way we test cars in the UK today. Under this law if a car fails it's Mot the owner will have to take it somewhere else to be fixed.

We all know what problems this will cause every Mot Testing Station in Britain today offering both Mot test and repairs.

This way of doing Mot's may work for the rest of Europe but three of the EU countries with the safest roads uses our test and repair model. Malta, Holland, and the UK. Road safety is life or death. It's not something that should be left to the whims of out of touch politicians on the continent.

This will probably never happen, but I do think it's time we came out of the EU

Keith

Re: Mot Testing Stations Under Threat

Posted by Peter Warman on March 25, 2014, 2:53 pm, in reply to "Mot Testing Stations Under Threat"
Peter Warman

Hi Keith

Good subject for debate

Would this be such a bad thing? I guess if you do MOT's and repairs it would probably be terminal if you had to split your operations

I guess the Euro MEP's are looking out for the customers interest rather than UK workshop owners. Independent testing stations charging a proper fee for a test and no vested interest may make a bigger profit?

It sort of work for me that way already, I do not do MOT test's but since 2008 I have vehicles collected and they take for test at £45.00 (no collection fee) the test fee is just added to our service price

If a vehicle fails they just return and the work is carried out, they will then collect and retest for free (within the limited time)

If a customers just wants an MOT then I get the vehicle colleted and they just pay the £45.00 MOT fee plus a £2.50 charge to cover a phone call and credit card charges, dont make anything from it but it does not cost me anything and it's another potential customer (most of mine are repeat anyway)

So the Euro MOT business model works for me

Peter

Now retiring to bunker

Re: Mot Testing Stations Under Threat

Posted by Keith Simpson on March 25, 2014, 3:31 pm, in reply to "Re: Mot Testing Stations Under Threat"

It might work for you Pete but it definitely won't for the already up and running test stations. If this set up came into play, I think I would seriously consider stopping testing as I imaging there would be more profit in doing the repairs.

The MEP's are not considering the customer when they will have to travel to get the test done, then travel to get the repairs done, then travel again for the retest.

What it probably will do is stop the cut price mot tests.

Keith

Re: Mot Testing Stations Under Threat

Posted by Peter Warman on March 25, 2014, 4:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Mot Testing Stations Under Threat"

I was wondering if splitting the test from repair would help to clean up our motor trade image with the motoring public

I can imagine the first thing that goes through a customers mind when they have an MOT is "are they going to fail it on something to generate work?" the customer becomes very suspicious when it does.....it's human nature

If it does fail at least they have an independent list of failures, they can then get independent quotes for the repairs that need to be done, without the fear from some outlets that those are leaking and these are worn to excess, they must have been missed during the MOT

May encourage them to have an annual service and check over

Peter

PS: I also believe that testing stations should be allowed to top up washers, change a wiper blade or bulb (very minor items) without a failure, but I guess VOSA (or whatever it is now) want every little detail recorded so motor factors know how many wiper blades and bulbs to stock

Re: Mot Testing Stations Under Threat

Posted by Alan Lange on March 25, 2014, 9:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Mot Testing Stations Under Threat"
Alan Lange

Hello Peter, test stations are allowed to do minor items during the test & should use the PRS (pass after rectification at station). The device will then print a fail & pass at the same time. Good evidence for the government on the amount of vehicles that really fail the test the next time they consider 4-2-2!

Re: Mot Testing Stations Under Threat

Posted by Mark Carter on March 25, 2014, 11:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Mot Testing Stations Under Threat"
Mark Carter

I believe there are approx 19,000 MOT stations in the UK.

If this ever comes into law I can see 19,000 "new" businesses almost over night running along side the existing one.

Mark

Re: Mot Testing Stations Under Threat

Posted by Shane gray on March 26, 2014, 7:02 am, in reply to "Re: Mot Testing Stations Under Threat"
Shane Gray

Morning,
I wonder wheather it will make any difference to my business as there are only 4 mot stations in my area me included, I just think my failures will go down the road and his will come to me.
The joys of living in rural wales!
Shane

Re: Mot Testing Stations Under Threat

Posted by lee mackintosh on March 26, 2014, 8:15 am, in reply to "Re: Mot Testing Stations Under Threat"
Lee Mackintosh

I was just talking about this subject with my Father and we said the exact same thing as Mark Carter.

We'd just try to setup a new business name to do the MOT repairs when/if we ever get round to having an MOT bay installed.

Some of the cars you see in for a test are unreal.