With the cost of living crisis continuing to bite, four in 10 motorists say they have concerns about, or definitely won’t be able to, afford their next MOT, with a further 17% saying they’re not sure if they will be able to or not. Amongst these, 45% say that if they can’t afford an MOT, they plan to keep driving their car regardless.
In addition, 17% of drivers - equating to millions of motorists - admit they have driven a car without a valid MOT certificate in the past 12 months. A further fifth (21%) say that they know someone else who has, sparking concerns about the number of unsafe vehicles on UK roads.
Further findings from Halfords also highlighted a growing issue - that of ‘working poverty’, with 9 in 10 in this situation saying their job would be impossible or much harder without a car. However, affording their vehicle is being made harder due to rising motoring costs, alongside other rising bills such as food, electricity and mortgages.
Off the back of these findings from Halfords, the brand is announcing that it will offer 1,000 free MOT’s to families who are struggling to make ends meet and rely on their vehicle, through a partnership with Family Action. The charity – which transforms lives by providing practical, emotional and financial support – will be giving the MOTs directly to families who need them the most.
Amongst those who are unsure if they will be able to afford an MOT this year, one in ten (9%) say they will simply keep driving until they are caught, whilst 16% say they will keep driving their car without an MOT until it needs to be re-insured (at which point, proof of an MOT is required). One in five (19%) say they will try to use their car less, but will still use it if they need to.
Halfords is warning Brits to ensure they prioritise their MOT in their budgeting, as driving without one is illegal, and will also, in most instances, invalidate insurance. To make this as affordable as possible, Halfords is offering £10 off MOTs to anyone who signs up to its Motoring Club. Signing up is completely free. To further help, the company is also offering 10,000 free MOTs to its employees.
Motoring costs could have a significant impact on the 51% of working Brits currently in ‘working poverty’ - those who, despite being in employment, say they can’t make ends meet. Many could find themselves in a worse position if they are not able to afford an MOT and lose their vehicle, as 41% of those in working poverty say that not having a car would make their job impossible, with a further 48% saying it would make it much harder.
This could potentially then lead to many losing their jobs entirely and worsening their financial situation significantly. It could also explain why so many are considering continuing to drive their car, even if they cannot afford an MOT.
Most Brits are struggling with motoring costs currently - 81% are concerned with meeting at least one motoring-related cost in the next 12 months, with fuel (62%) repairs (43%) and insurance (40%) the top three expenses they are most worried about.
Many motorists are having to compromise on other areas of expense. Over a third (36%) say they are having to spend less on socialising in order to meet their motoring costs, whilst 26% say they are impacting their ability to pay household bills, and 31% say they are compromising on their weekly food shopping to meet car costs.
Chris Lunn, Head of Category at Halfords Autocentres, said: “The findings raise serious concerns about the ability of Brits to afford key, safety-related, motoring expenses like MOTs, as well as the potential dangers this could lead to in the form of millions of cars on our roads without an MOT certificate. MOTs are a vital and legally-required check-up on any vehicle over three years old, to ensure it is roadworthy. Put simply, driving without one is both illegal, and can invalidate insurance.
“Those who are struggling to make ends meet are most likely to not be able to afford their MOT - but for this group, it could lead to a dangerous cycle of poverty. Amongst them, more than nine in ten say that not having a car would make their job impossible or significantly harder. Not having an MOT puts them at risk of losing their car, and therefore their job, making their financial situation far worse. That’s why we’re trying to help by offering free MOTs to families who rely on their car but are struggling financially, and discounted MOTs for all Brits to help keep motoring affordable.”
David Holmes, CBE, Chief Executive of Family Action, said: “We are delighted to be working with Halfords and we are extremely grateful for the donation of 1,000 free MOTs to share with the families we support. As the survey reveals, it is essential for many families to have access to a safe and roadworthy car for work, and for their day-to-day activities.
“Halfords generous support will help many families facing very difficult choices about how to spend what money they have this winter. It will ensure that they have peace of mind that their car is safe and roadworthy, and it will be one less thing for them to worry about.”
