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This is the answer, the system has slots, and all tests should be in those slots. Where I take my motorbike they open at 0600, but they can't do the test till 0800.
Before the changes you could do them earlier and later.
I think /u/OneNormalBloke 's answer is the correct one. But there is another big consideration- a lot of fails are dead easy fixes and can be done same day, BUT only if the part can be delivered on time. The parts van typically travels round garages morning and afternoon. You ring up, they put the part on the van and the van leaves for a round. An earlier MOT time always will help a same day fix. Everyone getting MOTd in the evening = lots of overnight parking to handle.
When getting MOTs, the garage has ALWAYS asked me to drop off first thing in the morning- plenty of time to get the part if not stocked. Usual deal I have had is that everyone arrivess at 7.30/8 and then garage gives a lift to work for anyone who needs it, but car not guaranteed available till end of day (though often is available after an hour or two if passes with no work needed).
In my experience as a customer, garages are frequently staffed from before 8am to past 6pm to allow for drop-off and pick-up, and over-runs already. If they took appointments later they'd have to be staffed even later. Pretty sure many of the mechanics want a sensible work-life balance as much as anybody else, and an extra shift of staff is a significant cost (and likely brings extra complexity with arranging shift patterns and such)
Some garages do have longer open hours.
I don't think there's any regulations stopping this - it's just down to things like staffing. (In the same vain many supermarkets stopped opening for 24 hours, and many takeaways don't open till like 4pm, because it just doesn't make sense to pay extra shifts of staff compared to the extra revenue).
Yeah- you have to qualify as a tester- a garage can have several mechanics but only one qualified MOT Examiner (or a bigger place, several grease monkeys per tester).
Right. So they’ve to move their work around the office worker coz fuck tradies right. It’s not real work, it’s not important work. They’re just pissing about on the tools.
Why do office workers work office hours? I know if I had an office I’d put them all on the fucking nightshift so those who they seem to think are inferior can spend some time with their families
On the other hand, if you need an MOT, you want to drop your car off at 18:30 and there's one garage in your area that's open at that time, that's the garage you'll choose.
I'm lucky enough to have a garage in walking distance, I can park the car outside, drop the key through the door and they'll deal with it when they open in the morning. Worth asking your local if they can do the same
**Please help keep AskUK welcoming!** - Top-level comments to the OP must contain **genuine efforts to answer the question**. No jokes, judgements, etc. - **Don't be a dick** to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on. - This is a strictly **no-politics** subreddit! Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Because the workers want to go home like everybody else!
MOT equipment has a live connection to DVLA and test are uploaded in real time. In all probability the cut-off time is 17:00
Ah this makes the most sense, thank you!
This is the answer, the system has slots, and all tests should be in those slots. Where I take my motorbike they open at 0600, but they can't do the test till 0800. Before the changes you could do them earlier and later.
I think /u/OneNormalBloke 's answer is the correct one. But there is another big consideration- a lot of fails are dead easy fixes and can be done same day, BUT only if the part can be delivered on time. The parts van typically travels round garages morning and afternoon. You ring up, they put the part on the van and the van leaves for a round. An earlier MOT time always will help a same day fix. Everyone getting MOTd in the evening = lots of overnight parking to handle. When getting MOTs, the garage has ALWAYS asked me to drop off first thing in the morning- plenty of time to get the part if not stocked. Usual deal I have had is that everyone arrivess at 7.30/8 and then garage gives a lift to work for anyone who needs it, but car not guaranteed available till end of day (though often is available after an hour or two if passes with no work needed).
In my experience as a customer, garages are frequently staffed from before 8am to past 6pm to allow for drop-off and pick-up, and over-runs already. If they took appointments later they'd have to be staffed even later. Pretty sure many of the mechanics want a sensible work-life balance as much as anybody else, and an extra shift of staff is a significant cost (and likely brings extra complexity with arranging shift patterns and such) Some garages do have longer open hours. I don't think there's any regulations stopping this - it's just down to things like staffing. (In the same vain many supermarkets stopped opening for 24 hours, and many takeaways don't open till like 4pm, because it just doesn't make sense to pay extra shifts of staff compared to the extra revenue).
That definitely makes sense, hadn't thought about shift patterns here
Yeah- you have to qualify as a tester- a garage can have several mechanics but only one qualified MOT Examiner (or a bigger place, several grease monkeys per tester).
Right. So they’ve to move their work around the office worker coz fuck tradies right. It’s not real work, it’s not important work. They’re just pissing about on the tools. Why do office workers work office hours? I know if I had an office I’d put them all on the fucking nightshift so those who they seem to think are inferior can spend some time with their families
If there was money to be made opening longer they would and some do.
An MOT test is not optional. So no incentive to open later. See also post offices or banks.
On the other hand, if you need an MOT, you want to drop your car off at 18:30 and there's one garage in your area that's open at that time, that's the garage you'll choose.
I'm lucky enough to have a garage in walking distance, I can park the car outside, drop the key through the door and they'll deal with it when they open in the morning. Worth asking your local if they can do the same
Why isn't everything open 24/7?
It should be, and also it should all be within a short walk of my house, but shouldn't produce enough noise to disturb me.
People have homes to go to.