IAAF calls for MOT test fee increase to support safety, air quality and aftermarket standards
Time to reset the aftermarket’s contract with the consumer, says IAAF CEO Mark Field
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) is calling for a long-overdue increase in the MOT test fee as part of a wider campaign to support modernising the MOT, rising industry standards and right to repair for the independent automotive aftermarket.
While the UK independent aftermarket continues to demonstrate leadership in vehicle repair and maintenance, value for money and customer service, the MOT system must also evolve to reflect the complexity of modern vehicles and ensure they remain reliable and roadworthy throughout their lifespan.
The current maximum fee a garage can charge for a car MOT test is £54.85. The IAAF believes this figure is now far too low for the significant time and investment garages must make to carry out a modern test.
Mark Field, IAAF Chief Executive, said: “The MOT test fee has remained frozen since 2010, despite the exponential growth of in-vehicle technology and related safety systems. In line with inflation alone, the test fee should now sit at around £90.”
He continued, “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 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 advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). These technologies, now commonplace in many vehicles, 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.
Field added: “The independent automotive aftermarket is changing rapidly and challenging outdated perceptions, thereby resetting its contract with the motorist. There’s a much wider issue than just the test 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.”