The MOT bay is often the single most profitable square metre in an independent garage. Small changes in how it's scheduled compound quickly — a 10% uplift in bay utilisation is measurable in weekly cash.
Configure the bay as MOT-only during peak hours
During peak MOT hours (morning slots and Saturdays), don't let general repair work eat the bay. Reserve it, and release later if unbooked.
Set class-specific durations
Class 4 and Class 7 take different times. Baking that into the schedule stops apparently-free slots turning into overruns.
Buffer for retests
A short buffer at the end of each MOT slot handles the retest case without collapsing the day. If retests are rare, keep the buffer small; if you're on a bad-fleet street, make it 15 minutes.
Send MOT reminders on the DVLA date
The single most effective marketing you can do is reminding a customer their MOT is due — one SMS to a returning customer usually beats any paid ad.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I offer MOT + service bundles?
- Yes — bundles increase average ticket and use both bay-hours efficiently.
- Can I let customers book MOTs online?
- Yes — MOT is the ideal Fast Lane service. Just make sure slots respect real capacity and class rules.
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