MOT capacity sufficient as expected rush does not materialise

Despite warnings that MOT deferrals made during the pandemic could lead to massive demand, there was no substantial jump in tests conducted in September.

Using an analysis of information held on its 1link Service Network platform, Epyx says that there were almost 52,000 MOT tests carried out during the month. This is close to the just over 49,000 processed during the most recent pre-Covid September in 2019.

Debbie Fox, commercial director at Epyx, said: “There was a slight panic over the summer about the capacity that may be available for fleet MOTs, with the DVSA reporting that more than half a million additional tests would be needed in September because of deferrals.

“However, our figures show that this was a very normal month for fleet MOTs and indeed, if you look over the statistics across the entire pandemic, company car and van operators appear to have continued to book MOTs in a relatively normal manner.

“There was a significant dip when Covid first hit in April 2019 and then unusually large numbers of bookings in the following September and October that appear to be compensating but, very quickly, the situation normalised.”

Its 1link Service Network is used to manage the service, maintenance and repair of four million company vehicles.

Fox continued: “Our conclusion is that the vast majority of excess MOT demand forecast by the DVSA must have been among private motorists.

“Fleet MOT patterns appear to be now following a very normal annual pattern and have been for almost the last year.”