MOT test repair bills cost an average of £143 per vehicle as repairs are needed for faults highlighted during the annual test. Motorists are often forced to pay the costly bills or face their car being banned from the road.
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DVSA reveals there could be 50,000 dangerous cars
The data comes after one-fifth of motorists have revealed they were late for their MOT test because they could not afford upgrades to their car.
However, DVSA experts urge motorists to never put off car repairs on the grounds of road safety and have put together tips to ensure your vehicle stays up to date on repairs while saving money.
Start saving early
The DVSA has set MOT test prices at a maximum of £55 meaning no garage can charge more than this to conduct an annual check.
However, tough new MOT legislation saw one-third of cars fail last year with thousands found to carry “dangerous” faults.
Driving without a valid MOT is illegal and motorists could be fined by police officers unless repairs are conducted as soon as possible.
Research from WhocanFixMyCar.com found the average MOT repair bill is around £143 which could leave some cash-strapped motorists unable to get their cars back to a road-legal standard.
DVSA experts advise road users to save £12 per month throughout the year which can be used if urgent repairs are needed at a bad time.
Split car checks across the year
Almost half of motorists believe a valid MOT test guarantees their car would be safe to drive for another 12 months.
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A total of 47 percent assumed if their car passes the MOT test they would not need their car checked for another year.
While an MOT does mean the car is road-legal during this period it does not necessarily mean the car is completely safe to drive.
This is because issues could develop throughout the year which could require urgent updates.
Driving a car with a minor fault could soon worsen the damage and this could leave you with a higher repair bill if car parts become broken.
DVSA experts say faults will be picked up at a car service and doing this between your MOT tests could help to spread the cost of repairs throughout the year.
Regular servicing is also likely to make your car more fuel-efficient. Properly inflated tyres will also reduce fuel consumption which saves money.
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- This is the most popular reason why cars failed their MOT test
Don’t put off car updates
Cars can still pass an MOT test if they have recorded a minor fault or advisory update but motorists should never ignore these completely.
DVSA chiefs urge road users to discuss conducting minor repairs with their garage or mechanic as soon as possible.
Updating a fault before it becomes worse is advised and will often mean motorists can save money in the long run.
The DVSA says an advisory fault for low tyre tread will be cheaper to replace than if the issues are left.
Purchasing a cheap set of tyres between £80 and £150 will be more cost-effective than paying out for emergency repairs when a tyre breaks.
Police officers can also issue massive £2,500 fines for each tyre which is below the legal limit and road users could be issued with points on their driving licence.
Do your research
For those looking to buy a used car in 2020, DVSA experts urge motorists to check a vehicle’s MOT history before finalising a deal.
An MOT history will give you an idea of how well the previous owner looked after the car and if a vehicle is generally in good condition.
The DVSA checker will tell you whether a car passed or failed and how many advisory repairs were recommended at the time.
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