MOT demand drives 82% increase in Motor Ombudsman Garage Finder searches
Published: 20 October, 2020
The Motor Ombudsman’s Garage Finder recorded an 82% rise in searches in the third quarter of 2020 when compared to the preceding three-month period, with MOT demand being a major driver of interest.
Between 1 July and 30 September, the online tool was called on by users to locate a UK-based car retailer or repairer that is accredited to the Ombudsman’s Service and Repair and Vehicle Sales Codes of Practice a combined total of 66,187 times, compared with 36,290 in the previous three-month period. It also represented a slight increase on the 65,198 seen between January and March.
The near doubling of user searches mirrors increased consumer demand for MOTs following the lockdown period where many garages temporarily closed their doors, and 56% of motorists postponed the annual test using the government’s six-month exemption, according to a recent Motor Ombudsman poll.
Motorists have also been encouraged to get their car tested before the end of the exemption in order to ease the pressure on MOT stations, which resulted in a significant rise in throughput compared to what is ordinarily seen in a typical year. According to the latest figures from the DVSA) 310,000 more MOTs and retests were carried out in August this year compared to the same period in 2019, whilst a total of 3.7 million MOTs took place this September, which is around half a million higher than the 3.25 million monthly average seen during the 2019 - 2020 financial year.
Commenting on the findings, Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and Managing Director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “With many MOTs still outstanding across the country, combined with the demand for regular routine maintenance, our Garage Finder will also continue to prove particularly beneficial to help find an alternative Motor Ombudsman-accredited business in their local area, should the consumer’s regular garage be fully booked. With daily searches already averaging in excess of 700 in October, user traffic is showing no signs of slowing as we enter the last quarter of 2020.”
For more information, visit www.TheMotorOmbudsman.org/garage-finder
- DVSA encouraging motorists to beat post-exemption rush and get MOT this summer
MOT demand during autumn expected to double following the return of normal testing last Saturday (1 August). To avoid a backlog at garages and take advantage of a summer lull at testing stations, the DVSA is encouraging motorists who took advantage of the MOT exemption to get their car tested as soon as possible.
- MOT extension about to be terminated?
Is the six-month MOT extension about to be terminated? The decision by the DVSA to end a parallel arrangement for HGVs early next month has raised expectations for an imminent announcement, and statistics have shown over two million drivers have till sought MOTs despite the testing holiday.
- DVSA reveals top 20 postcodes for MOT demand during autumn
Areas where demand for MOTs will be highest this autumn have been revealed by the DVSA. All but one postcode across the UK will see demand for tests rise by over 50% in October and November, as drivers given an MOT exemption look to get a test performed at the same time as those normally due MOTs during the period.
- Shifting demands, shifting gears
Garages that thought they would be veering away from MOTs in favour of essential repairs during the Coronavirus lockdown are still doing MOT tests at roughly the same rate, it has been suggested.
While DVSA figures showed a 78% drop in MOT performed between 30 March and 24 April, marketing agency Digital Incubator says the independent garages it works with that remained open during the lockdown have not seen such a steep drop.
“We have a lot of garage clients that have switched from MOT campaigns to clutch and gearbox work,” explained Jamie Stoulger, Sales Director and Operations Manager at Digital Incubator. “However, our clients are still generating a steady flow of MOT enquires.”
Campaigns
The marketing agency works with garages across the UK, and currently has over 1,200 motor trade campaigns ongoing. 80% of customers are in the independent sphere.
Jamie continued: “Regardless of the MOT not being relevant, people are still getting their cars picked up. A lot of our clients run a collect and delivery service. We are running that via the ad campaigns and on the website.”
There has been an impact, Jamie confirmed, but a mild one at best, and work overall continues: “MOTs have slowed down slightly, that just what it is, but regardless of us being in the middle of this pandemic, if someone still has to go into work and their car breaks down, they still need to get it repaired. They are not going to just leave it on the side of the road and deal with it six months later. You need it done. As a result, our clients are still generating leads.”
Performance
We asked Jamie he thought this has taken many of their garage clients by surprise. “I wouldn’t say so,” he replied. “There are a lot of franchised dealerships and service centres that have just closed their doors without even thinking about it. They just went ‘we can get funding, let’s just put everyone on furlough’. The garage businesses that decided to pummel through this, they are still performing. There might be a small dip in some cases, but across the board, our averages have not really dropped. I don’t want to make a bold statement and say it isn’t affecting anyone – it is – but they are on average not far behind where they usually are. It has hit them, but we are not talking about 50%. The drops in business are probably around 10% to 15%.”
Situation
On what has been in many cases blanket closure by across much of the franchised network, Jamie observed: “I worry about the outlets that are closing their doors without making the slightest attempt at generating business. It’s still out there. People forget that. Across the board, if you think about it logically, there might only be 50% of the business available, but if 80% of the outlets are closing down, the garages staying open will benefit. I think a lot of businesses are going to come back to a very big decline in their own customer base. Their customers have had chance to test another garage out. If they had a better service, I know where they will go the second time around.
“I think some businesses have taken things a little too far. There are things you can put in place, like contactless pick-up and delivery. Dealerships could have put in place what the independents have done to keep their workers safe and the customers safe. If you can, do everything contactless. A lot of companies are going to go bust because of this. The best bet is to do things safely, ensure it is all contactless, but keep the doors open. The business is out there, they just need to be a bit more open about how to get it.”
- MOT calibration: Snap-on support
Snap-on is offering MOT testing stations the opportunity to sidestep the need to source calibration for existing equipment via a special offer on a fully calibrated SUN DGA5000 emissions analyser.
The company says the equipment can be up and running within days of orders being received, and that those who take up the offer will pay nothing for 90 days. When payment is due, it will be interest-free, with a range of payment options available.
Since the end of the MOT exemption, the number of motorists seeking tests has risen significantly, and in a Special Notice DVSA acknowledged that MOT testing stations may find it difficult to get equipment calibrated. While some leeway was permitted if there was proof that a testing station had a calibration booked, it was also pointed out that business unable to prove their equipment has been calibrated and is functioning normally would not be allowed to perform testing.
Commenting on Snap-on’s offer, UK General Manager Mark Ost said: “We can provide you with our industry-leading SUN DGA5000 emissions analyser. You pay nothing for 90 days, ensuring you can generate some much-needed revenue without the worry of having to make a large lump sum payment straight away.
“With over 500,000 consumers choosing to defer their MOT tests, we know this has been a very challenging time for the whole garage industry.
“The positive news is that industry experts expect that the volume of MOT tests to be carried out from August to early 2021 will be over 2.5 times the usual activity, which will hopefully result in tremendous revenue opportunities.”
Mark added: “We know that the demand for the SUN DGA5000 will be high and so in order to meet our customers’ needs, we have been working hard to build up a stock of available product. Place your order now to ensure you get one of these units before supplies are gone.”
To find out more about the offer, call 01553 692422, alternatively, email techsales.uk@snapon.com or visit https://www.snapon.com/diagnostics/uk/MOT-support
