4.7 million motorists miss MOT renewal date

With half (50%) of motorists putting car buying plans on hold during the current recession and keeping their existing vehicles for longer, responsible car maintenance should be high up on a motorist's agenda. However, new research from uSwitch.com's Motorist Opinion Panel reveals that forgetful motorists are driving the gauntlet, with 4.7 million missing their MOT renewal date. Collectively, these absent-minded motorists are creating a hole in the industry's bank balance to the tune of £21 million for every month their certificate remains overdue.

Worryingly, many of these motorists aren't quick to rectify their error, with only half (52%) booking their car in for an MOT within a week of the expiry date, whilst over a third (36%) take up to a month, and one in ten (12%) taking anything up to 12 months. In addition, two-thirds (64%) admitted to continuing to drive their car illegally past the expiry date. Not only are these motorists jeopardising their own safety by driving a potentially un-roadworthy vehicle, they are also risking a prosecution for driving without a valid MOT which in turn invalidates the insurance policy.

The majority (79%) of those motorists who miss their MOT renewal date put it down to sheer forgetfulness, whilst 11% are thrown by a change of vehicle. Over 6 million (25%) drivers rely on their local garage or car dealership to remind them when their MOT is up for renewal, however not all extend this courtesy as they are under no obligation.

Despite 12 million drivers (51%) stating they would like to receive a reminder for their next MOT, there is currently no official reminder service in place. uSwitch.com, calls for the implementation of a reminder initiative, in a similar vein to the reminders issued by the DVLA when a motorist's VED (road tax) is due, or when insurance providers alert policy holders when their insurance is up for renewal. It is likely that such a scheme would provide opportunity for the Government to hike the cost of an MOT even further - unwelcome news for motorists who have already had to absorb an inflation-busting 88% increase in MOT costs (from £28.66 to current level of £54.00) over the last 12 years.

For those motorists worried about remembering their MOT renewal due date, or those concerned about the rising costs of adequately maintaining their vehicle, help is at hand. uSwitch.com has launched an MOT reminder service and is also offering an exclusive MOT discount deal in association with the National Service Network. By visiting nsn.co.uk/mot-service-reminder/?d=uswitch a customer can enter their details and MOT due date and they will receive a reminder a month before it is next due to expire. Similarly by visiting uswitch.com/ushop, drivers can receive a 20% discount on their MOT, reducing the price from £54.00 to £42.48.

Mark Monteiro, Insurance Expert at uSwitch.com comments: "Life moves at a pretty fast pace and so it is understandable that many consumers may find themselves losing track of deadlines and commitments. However, failure to remember your MOT renewal date is not only an offence, but the potential safety and financial consequences are a hefty price to pay for an innocent lapse of memory.

"For drivers who don't trust themselves to remember their MOT renewal date, there are many reminder services available through garages and car dealerships and uSwitch.com has also recently launched its own reminder service in association with the National Service Network. However, we also believe that the implementation of an official MOT reminder service should be considered by the Government and respective motoring bodies, to address this problem head on."

For those motorists who dutifully abide by the MOT renewal laws but are who are concerned about facing the increasing costs, uSwitch.com is offering a 20% discount on the test fee which can be taken advantage of by visiting uswitch.com/ushop."