Drivers could face delays in booking their MOT due to a surge in the number of vehicles due for work.   

The busiest month for MOTs is expected to be September, when as many as 770,000 extra vehicles will require a test

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the BookMyGarage.com real-time comparison site for motorists shows the number of vehicles due for an MOT will surge by up to 23% in the late summer and into autumn.  

The spike in demand is due to the disruption caused by Covid-19 and the resulting MOT extension, and will see millions of additional vehicles requiring a test before the wave starts to subside from December, based on similar data from 2021.  

The busiest month for MOTs is expected to be September, when as many as 770,000 extra vehicles will require a test.   

In total, nearly 10 million vehicles are expected to need an MOT during September, October, and November.   

BookMyGarage.com is encouraging drivers to beat the rush by booking early. Drivers can have an MOT carried out up to a month before it runs out while keeping the same renewal date.   

New MOT laws came into force in May 2018, meaning tighter rules and larger fines for those caught driving an unroadworthy vehicle. The current fine for driving without an MOT is up to £1,000. However, the new rules mean drivers could receive a fine of more than double this for driving an unroadworthy car, even if the driver has a valid MOT. On top of this, if a car fails an MOT with a dangerous fault, the driver could get three points on their licence if they drive it.  

Karen Rotberg, co-founder of BookMyGarage.com, said: “While September will likely be the busiest month, once we are into August, garages will be getting busy and are likely to put up prices – if drivers book now, however, they could lock-in that price.   

“Motorists should either aim to get their MOT booked in ahead of when it is required by one month or simply book their MOT in advance. With the harsh fines and possible penalty points at stake, it is crucial to avoid letting MOTs expire.”  

BookMyGarage added that the FOI data shows how the long-established distribution of MOTs conducted throughout the year is not applicable and a return to normality will take several years. Traditionally, March and September would show modest spikes due to the new car registration release dates.