The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is asking the UK Government to raise the maximum MOT fee to at least £95. The association has confirmed that its proposal covers every MOT class, including motorcycle testing, bringing the issue directly into focus for riders and the garages that serve them.

A £95 cap would not automatically turn every motorcycle MOT into a £95 test. The current maximum charge is £29.65 for a standard motorcycle and £37.80 for a motorcycle with a sidecar. Both limits have remained unchanged since April 2010. The IGA is seeking a review of the fee structure across the MOT system, so the way a possible increase would be applied to individual vehicle classes has not been decided.

Why testing capacity is under pressure

The IGA says that running a garage and carrying out MOT tests have become substantially more expensive. Stuart James, the association’s chief executive, said the MOT fee has been frozen since 2010 while garage operating and testing costs have risen. The IGA also says some businesses are already cutting back their MOT capacity because workshop space can generate more income when it is used for repairs and servicing.

For motorcyclists, the practical consequence could be fewer appointment slots, longer waits and less choice of testing centre. The IGA has requested an urgent meeting with the Transport Minister after talks with the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency failed to settle its concerns. Whether the cap will change, when that might happen and what the final figure would be remain open questions.