MOT 40 www.aftermarketonline.net JULY/AUGUST 2024 More than a third (35%) of UK motorists would rather fix minor car issues themselves than pay for a professional to do it, according to research released by eBay UK. Saving money is a key reason for savvy drivers taking it upon themselves to fix problems, but some avoid dealing with issues altogether, data indicates*. In the study, 34% of motorists said they delayed getting MOT advisories fixed last year due to rising living costs, with another 33% stating that they were unable to afford the repairs. But with one in 10 claiming they “do not think advisories are big deal, it’s no wonder that nearly a quarter (22%) admitted to delaying repairs for as long as possible”, ebay said. The UK research also revealed that the most common MOT failure issues were inoperative lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (23%), followed closely by suspension (18%), brake issues (14%) and defective tyres (13%), many of which could be easily avoided. Arjang Salehi, category lead for vehicle parts and accessories at eBay UK, said the research showed 45% of motorists dread the prospect of an MOT more than going to the dentist (34%) and this anxiety is caused by fear of the unknown. “What’s the garage going to find and how much is it going to cost to put it right — those are the biggest fears,” Salehi said. Meanwhile, ebay said data obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency through a freedom of information (FOI) request** across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland has identified the top 10 locations with the highest average MOT failure rates for 2023. They are: 1. Kirkcaldy - 37.38%; 2. Llandrindod Wells - 36.37%; 3. Dundee - 36.30%; 4. Truro - 36.13%; 5. Plymouth - 36.02%; 6. Exeter - 35.67%; 7. Torquay - 35.63%; 8. Salisbury - 34.20%; 9. Bristol - 34.11%; 10. Bath - 34.05%. According to the research, the top 10 reasons for MOT failure were: 1. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment – 23%; 2. Suspension – 18%; 3. Brakes – 14%; 4. Tyres – 13%; 5. Visibility – 10%; 6. Body, chassis, structure – 7%; 7. Noise, emissions and leaks – 6%; 8. Steering – 4%; 9. Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems – 2%; 10. Identification of the vehicle – 0.75%. *The research was commissioned by eBay and the survey compiled by Opinion Matters in February 2024. The total sample size was 2,056 UK car owners and current drivers aged 18+. **The FOI request was made by eBay UK in January 2024 to the DVLA and data recorded for 2023 across test centres in the UK. Research shows some motorists dread the prospect of an MOT more than going to the dentist, caused by a fear of the unknown Testing times for garages Research highlights challenges for professional mechanics as some motorists say they are more anxious taking their car for an MOT than going to the dentist
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