Answer to rip-off MoT repairs?

By Jonathan Blake
Newsbeat reporter

At council-run MoT centres you only pay for the test fee

If you don't know much about cars, then putting yours in for an MoT can be like a journey into the unknown.

After a tense wait you either pass, breathe a sigh of relief and drive off, or fail.

Then it's more like a deep breath while you wait to hear how much it'll cost you to get it through.

Some people have a friendly local garage, but if you don't, choosing where to have an MoT is difficult.

A cheap deal at a garage often ends up costing you later when they bill you for repairs.

But there is an alternative. Many local councils run MoT centres for their own vehicles which are also open to the public.

You still have to pay the test fee, but as the garages don't usually do repairs there is no incentive for them to fail you.

'Impartial view'

Keith Miller, who is in charge of MoT testing for Milton Keynes Council, said: "A lot of people say you get an impartial view, because we're not interested in fixing the work afterwards."

It's a reasonable price and so far I've got no complaints Heather from Bedforshire on council-run MoT centre

You only need to stop a few people in the town centre to find out what a well kept secret council testing centres are.

Debbie Newton, 30, said she didn't know about them but would consider it in the future: "Definitely, because there's always that worry when you take your car in that you are going to get stung."

An official spokesman for the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) told Newsbeat: "The standard of MoT test should be the same at any vehicle testing station."

But mechanic James Warnock who's been testing cars for many years, told us some garages do fail a car when they shouldn't.

He said: "Standards are improving but it does happen. I have seen it in the past."

MoT appeal

While most people would take a fail on the chin and fork out for the repairs, it is possible to appeal.

Figures from VOSA show that in the 12 months to March 2008 there were 123 appeals against MoT failures, 47 of which were deemed to have passed.

There were 123 appeals against MoT failures last year

Council testing centres might not be the best option for everyone.

If your car needs major repairs they will have to be done somewhere else, so it is always best to get professional advice.

But one satisfied customer at the Milton Keynes testing centre is Heather from Flitwick in Bedfordshire.

She said: "It's convenient for me, it's a reasonable price and so far I've got no complaints."

Her car failed on the day, but she was hoping to drive it away after a few minor tweaks.

And the centre is happy to help if a car does fail.

Keith Miller said: "We do some small repairs, but we would just give them a bit of advice and a steer in the right direction."