What happened?
On 21 October 2026 the IMI, the professional body for people working in the motor industry, brought together trade associations, road safety groups, employers, educators and researchers to discuss the future of the MOT. DVSA, which sets the MOT rules and oversees test centres, supported the event, and its head of vehicle policy and engineering, Neil Barlow, spoke.
Organisations at the table included:
- Industry bodies: SMMT, NFDA, BVRLA, IAAF, FSB and SMTA
- Road safety groups: IAM RoadSmart and TyreSafe
- Research and legal: the Transport Research Laboratory and Lawgistics
- Employers and others: Test Centre, Auto Windscreens, Eden Motor Group, Fleet Assist and Protech
Before the meeting, the IMI surveyed garages about the pressure of investing in MOT equipment and training, and used the results in the discussion.
What was discussed?
- Electric vehicles. What an MOT should check on an electric car, and the skills and training testers need.
- New safety risks from more complex vehicles, including driver-assistance systems.
- Fraud and test quality. DVSA raised opportunities to reduce fraud and improve the quality of testing.
- The driver's experience, including cost-of-living pressures.
- Funding. Whether garages can keep delivering a more demanding test under a funding model built for simpler cars.
The IMI's chief executive, Nick Connor, said the goal was "to ensure the future of road safety through sustainable and futureproof roadworthiness testing."
Is the MOT fee going up?
Not now. The maximum a test centre can charge for a car MOT is £54.85, and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle. Garages can charge less, and many do. The car fee cap has not risen since 2010, which is why garage groups have pushed for a review. The Department for Transport has said it has no current plans to increase the fee but keeps it under constant review.
See how much an MOT costs and why prices vary between garages.
The MOT is already changing
This meeting follows several changes to the test this year:
- LED bulbs: since 14 October, approved LED replacement bulbs can pass the MOT in halogen headlamps, with an approval sticker. Read more.
- Photos at test: testers now take photos of vehicles during the MOT. Read more.
- Reminders: DVLA plans digital MOT reminders in its online account by December. Read more.
What it means for you today
Nothing changes for your next MOT. Testing still follows the current MOT inspection manual. To prepare, use our MOT checklist, check when yours is due with the MOT due date checker, and look at your car's MOT history to see which advisories have come up before.
Questions drivers ask
Is the MOT changing in 2026?
Some rules changed this year, such as approved LED replacement bulbs being accepted from 14 October. The IMI and DVSA roundtable on 21 October 2026 discussed future changes, including EV checks, but no decisions were announced.
How much does an MOT cost?
The maximum fee for a car is £54.85 and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle. Garages can charge less.
Will the MOT fee go up?
Not at the moment. The Department for Transport has said it has no current plans to increase the fee but keeps it under review.
Do electric cars need an MOT?
Yes. Electric cars need an MOT from three years old, like petrol and diesel cars. The roundtable discussed adding checks specific to EVs in future.
Sources
- IMI: IMI hosts strategic industry roundtable on the future of the MOT (22 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: MOT test fees
- Motester: Government says no current plans to increase MOT fee (September 2026)
Facts checked against the sources above on 25 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
