Large vans have the worst MOT pass rate of any vehicle type seen on UK roads, according to statistics recently published by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

Commercial vehicles weighing between 3,000kg and 3,500kg had the worst pass rate of any vehicle in the year 2007-2008, with a failure rate of 44.7%, compared to a failure rate of 35.2% for cars and small vans.

However, the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) believes this is an opportunity for commercial vehicle repairers to generate new workshop business if they target their direct marketing towards businesses likely to be using these vehicles.

“With such a high MOT failure rate, it is clear that very little maintenance work is being performed on these vehicles,” explained Stephen Coles, head of the RMIF's MOT Technical Operations.

“Their owners may not realise that prevention could be cheaper than cure in the long run.

“This means that with correctly targeted marketing, commercial vehicle repairers could generate new business.”

RMIF member commercial vehicle repairers that want advice on marketing their workshop or MOT activities should contact the RMIF.