No MOT exemption this time – Make sure your customers know that warns TechMan
Published: 12 January, 2021
TechMan is urging garages to make sure they customers know there’s no MOT exemption this time, and that they must make sure that they seek an MOT for their car if it is due.
The advice came as concerns grow over the possibility that motorists may delay or even miss servicing and MOTs as a result of the new lockdown. In fact, guidance released last week in both England and Scotland states that garages can remain open. The situation in Wales, which remains at Alert Level Four, is the same.
Leo Freebairn of TechMan observed: “It’s pleasing to see that garage services have once again been permitted to continue operating and we welcome the DVSA’s confirmation that MOT testing will also continue.
“As with everything during this pandemic though, there’s still a lot of confusion and it’s down to garages to proactively communicate what the latest restrictions mean to their customers.
“The message is simple; workshops are permitted to remain open and the DVSA has indicated that there will not be another MOT extension at this time, so motorists must ensure their vehicle is roadworthy with a valid MOT.”
Leo added: “We all know that communication is key to building a strong customer rapport but there’s never been a more important time to go the extra mile by offering your professional expertise and advice during the ongoing pandemic.”
- MOT exemption: 78% drop in tests being performed
- DVSA issue COVID-19 update
DVSA has issued an update on MOT testing during the Coronavirus pandemic.
- Furlough scheme gets four-month extension
Garages could keep staff on furlough until October now, although more flexibility from August will mean businesses begin to share the burden, while also beginning to bring people back in part-time.
- No new MOT exemption garages reassured
Garages have continued to be reassured about the ongoing status of the MOT, with a new exemption firmly off the table according to DVSA, as England slides back into lockdown from Thursday (5 November).
- 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.”
