MOT exemption uncovers dodgy garages

Times of crisis are often seen as opportunities by dishonest traders, and the 2020 Covid 19 lockdown has been no exception. General worry over the impact of the virus, coupled with new rules imposed by the government, gave rise to a time earlier this year where some unscrupulous MOT testing centres tried to take advantage of vulnerable drivers. Wrong advice, coupled with payments for unnecessary work, led to some unwary motorists being fleeced due to the MOT exemption period. Here we look at the dodgy practices of some garages, and what to do about it if you get stung in future.

Dishonest advice given

When the government announced that any vehicle due for an MOT renewal after 30 March would have a six months grace period until 30 September, this was seen as a relief for many UK motorists. Unfortunately, it was also seen by many smaller garages as very bad news for their businesses; this meant six months when their profit margins would be severely dented, and often stopped completely.

In the case of some unscrupulous traders, existing customers were contacted and given false advice about their vehicles’ need for an MOT test. Customers were told that, for some reason, their vehicle didn’t qualify for the exemption, and that they should get an MOT check as soon as possible. This advice, sadly, was often aimed at women drivers, whom garages assumed would know less about their vehicles, and be worried about falling foul of the law.

In some cases, this bad advice was followed. Not only that, once the garages had their victims hooked, they then went on to advise that the MOTs would only pass if certain “minor” works were carried out; usually on the day. This led to targeted drivers missing out on the exemption, and being quite seriously out of pocket.

Dangers of rogue traders

For those who succumbed to this scam, this financial hit was twofold. Firstly, they failed to benefit from possible added value their vehicles may have gained due to being static rather than driven for six months. In some cases, this could have meant a much lower mileage count when the time came for resale. Secondly, with many drivers themselves facing financial hardship during the lockdown, not having to pay for MOT and extra work would have seriously helped their own budgeting.

Of course, once entered, an MOT certificate cannot be changed. Those testing centres belonging to the Motor Ombudsman’s alternative dispute resolution scheme (ADR) will be able to get some redress; however, not all garages are part of this scheme. Hopefully, those dishonest traders uncovered during this time will be named and shamed, and motorists take their business elsewhere.

Book a trustworthy test

So as not to be caught out, only use trustworthy MOT testing centres. Use the online booking form to obtain the nearest garage to you, as well as a slot to suit your timetable. Then, check out the garage in question, including whether they are part of the ADR. This could be a pointer to their trustworthiness.