Drivers are encouraged to book an MOT slot early ahead of the testing scramble at the end of October and through November.
MOT centres will be maxed out over the next few weeks due to a combination of a booking backlog from the pandemic and a wave of new car registrations.
AA Smart Care which has dubbed the period “nutty November” is urging drivers to book MOTs up to a month in advance to ensure drivers can keep their cars on the road.
Further, it is also encouraging motorists to carry out basic checks ahead of an MOT as many failures are for simple to spot issues such as tyres and bulbs.
Indeed, according to the latest DVSA data, 28% of all cars and vans failed their MOT.
Meanwhile, the group revealed that a quarter (24%) of drivers do not conduct any checks, while only a third of motorists choose to check the condition of their tyres and lights before taking vehicles to the garage.
Just one in ten (12%) give their car a thorough investigation before handing over the keys ahead of its test.
AA Smart Care said that checking cars in advance can also help keep repair and test costs down.
‘Drivers should book early to avoid disappointment’
James Hosking, managing director for AA Smart Care, said: “The number of MOTs due this November is going to be incredibly high, so drivers should book early to avoid disappointment.
“With MOT centres already starting to fill their diaries for the coming weeks, the peak is set to hit throughout November as drivers were able to defer their MOT by six months during the pandemic.
“Cars on the roads are getting older, so it’s more important than ever to regularly check your vehicle throughout the year, and not just before its MOT. Keeping an eye on tyres and bulbs takes five minutes, but can save against a costly repair bill and spread the cost of vehicle maintenance across the year.”
