After-hours service for MOTs

Garages should consider extending hours and opening on Sundays in order to meet the surge in demand for MOT slots, according to BookMyGarage.

Karen Rotberg, co-founder of BookMyGarage, said: “It’s a topic of conversation that has increased in seriousness over the last week. The demand is there, yet the current capacity is understandably stretched. In order to cope and mitigate against losing business from those unwilling to wait, a temporary increase in capacity is a logical move.

“We know it is being considered and debated across many groups at the moment.”

On average, two thirds (66%) of all franchise workshop bookings managed by the BookMyGarage include an MOT. Analysis of job sheets processed by its network of 9,000 franchised and independent garages also showed a rise in additional repair work from 25% to 48% year-on-year in July.

Rotberg added: “The backlog, on top of normal run of business, will take some time to clear but, as ever, it remains a conquest opportunity for dealers to capture those out-of-warranty owners shopping around for a deal. The exemption has just added availability to that equation.

“Despite the fact that capacity is an issue, we have had over 100 franchise sites increase their investment in August, due to the fact that they collectively achieved over 600% ROI last month, in order to attract this new conquest work.  Although it is booked in line with diary availability, they are willing to increase their working hours to capitalise on the MOT rush.”

The DVSA has already predicted ‘double the usual demand’ in the autumn months and has been encouraging motorists to bring their MOT forward to avoid the congestion.