spot on sir in my opinion people just do not understand what it costs to run a Garage or a business, it is not all profit that is for sure overheads put a stop to that.

I Have to open 6 days a week just to survive i refuse to work Sundays because

1, I need a day of to recoperate

2, Family need to see me As well.

Cheap Mots mean a loss leader to get extra work and probably quote for work that just does not need or require it.

I say avoid the Fast Fit Centres or Big Chain of Gargages such as Kwick Fit, Mr Clutch, Halfords Etc

They have already been on Watch Dog for Misleading customers yet people still use them because they cant resist the £25.00 pound Mot then complain when they get burnt.

The Goverment MOT set price which is £54.85 this what they have worked out a garage needs to charge to Run properly Effeciantly and by the book.

So Please people Look at the bigger picture nothing in life is free no matter what service or anything that you may need you simply get what you pay 4.

My Advice is to use a Family Run Business or a Independant Garage where Word of Mouth advertising is everything to them, we cant afford big advertising on the telly or national newspaper advertising, we rely on your next door neighhbour or family member to tell you how good honest and reliable we are.

Do your homework Then once you have found a Garage you like stick with them, then you cant go wrong, but just remember if you own 4 wheels you will need to spend money to look after it unless you are lucky enough to be a Good Mechanic most cars cost an average of 30/40 pence per mile to run but you do not get the bill at the end of the week only when it breaks down or your annual mot inspection, but you still need to maintain it, look at it like a Human being, we have to look after ourself as well doctors visits etc

The average car covers 12,000 miles per year so your maintainance costs are going to be roughly £3,600 pounds per Year if you drive the average Ford/vauxhall, if you are in the Audi/Mercedes Bracket it will be much more.

I hope this has helped you out Guys and Dolls because believe me i hate to see customers getting ripped of because it tars us all with the same brush, i do my job because I enjoy it and not because i want to be a Millionare that will never ever happen unless i win the lottery, cars are changing all the time so it is the challenge i enjoy not to be beaton and to get satisfaction out of helping people, some people do not appreciate it but alot do which is why they come back to me.

Happy Motoring and Safe driving to Everybody Including The White Van Driver

yes i did mean insurrance road tax etc

Can I claim the lowest price for an MoT? £20.95. The place I use is part of a fast fit chain with a number of branches in the south east and along the south coast. They advertise in the local paper £22.95 (I think), but they send out reminder letters to existing customers offering £20.95.

In my experience they are fair. Our 14 year old Punto has passed first time the last two years and so whilst they may hope to get a bit of repair business out of it, they haven't had much luck with me recently.

I can't disagree with you. Cheap often means dodgy, but in the case of the place I have used for several years now, if they fail, then it is justified.

Emissions are the one thing the competent DIYer can't check, everything else can be given the once over beforehand. Wear and tear is all down to the subjective opinion of the tester.

I've used the same workshop for MoT's for about 20 years - they always discount the price - they're always open and honest about all advisories and repairs, whether for MoT or not - it's the only workshop that I haven't felt ripped off at in over 40 years.

As a family we've had all sorts of age/condition car looked after by this workshop - from 3-year old under warranty so no faults expected - to a 15-year old rustbucket that cost more to repair for MoT each year than it was worth but was the only way to get reasonable insurance with a drink-drive conviction (not me, honest).

I guess the value to this workshop is all the repeat business they get from existing customers - the MoT is just priced like everything else - good value.

Quote: Is this a council MOT centre. Or a normal garage that does tests only? Quote

No! It's not Council, although I used to go to the Coucil depot at Guildford. There they did Hackney taxis and private hire vehicles which had to be Council registered. The one I use is a specialized test centre with two inspecion bays and no repair facilities