BookMyGarage.com has revealed it saw a 160% year-on-year increase in MOT bookings in April 2021.
The month performed far better for garages compared to the same period in 2020 when the DVSA issued an automatic six-month MOT extension in an effort to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The latest bookings data from the MOT and service comparison site, suggests a better than expected recovery has been made in 2021, with overall bookings, including MOTs, servicing and repairs, up 130% in April.
The impact of the extension was said to be mostly felt by garages in April and May, when a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the DVSA by BookMyGarage.com revealed MOT test numbers collapsed by 79% in April and 61% in May.
Karen Rotberg, Co-Founder of BookMyGarage.com, commented: “April was a real concern for garages, with four-in-five MOTs no longer due to take place as a result of the extension. With 70% of our customers booking their service at the same time as their MOT, this also caused a big drop in accompanying service and repair work.
“While we’re still on the road to recovery, April was a big improvement, and brings a more positive outlook for May and June when MOT test numbers were also notably impacted.”
