Cardiff owners are the least confident of their cars passing the annual MoT safety check.
Scrap Car Comparison, the UK’s biggest car scrappage comparison service, has revealed how UK drivers really feel about their annual MOT, from the worries that keep them up at night to the behaviour that could be putting them at risk.
The survey of 2,000 UK drivers highlights the extent to which motorists feel anxious, unprepared, and even avoidant when it comes to ensuring their vehicle is roadworthy.
The biggest worry around MOTs isn’t the test itself, but the bill that might follow. As many as 46% of drivers are most concerned about the cost involved if their car fails.
Unexpected problems are also front of mind, with 31% concerned about issues cropping up during the test, while 23% worry their car could fail without warning.
For many, it’s not just the repair itself but the disruption it causes. One in five drivers (20%) say they worry about being left without their car while it’s being fixed, underlining how important vehicles are for everyday life.
Further down the list, 13% of drivers are concerned about garages recommending unnecessary work to pass the test, while 12% worry their car may not be safe to drive.
At the other end of the scale, very few drivers say they find the MOT process confusing (5%), making it the least common concern overall.
The research also sheds light on how drivers approach their MOT, and just how much stress it can cause.
More than a third of motorists (37%) say they feel stressed in the weeks leading up to their MOT. At the same time, one in four admit they delay booking it for as long as possible.
Many drivers also take a last-minute approach to maintenance. Over a third (35%) say they only deal with potential issues when their MOT is due, while 62% focus solely on the repairs needed to pass, rather than addressing other recommended work.
This tendency to put things off is reflected more widely, with over half (53%) saying they don’t think about their MOT at all until it’s due.
Women more likely to feel MOT stress
Attitudes towards MOTs differ slightly between men and women, with women more likely to feel anxious about the process.
Almost four in ten women (39%) say they feel stressed in the run-up to their MOT, compared to 34% of men.
Cost is also a bigger concern for female drivers. Half of women (50%) say they worry most about the cost of repairs if their car fails, versus only 43% of men.
Drivers in Cardiff least confident their car would pass an MOT
Confidence in passing an MOT varies significantly across UK cities, with some drivers far less certain their vehicle would meet the required standards.
Drivers in Cardiff are the least confident overall, with over a third (37%) saying they do not feel confident their car would pass an MOT today.
Sheffield (36%) and Newcastle (35%) follow closely behind, suggesting a notable proportion of motorists in these cities have doubts about their vehicle’s condition.
At the other end of the scale, drivers in Liverpool (17%), Glasgow (17%) and Southampton (17%) are among the most confident, with fewer motorists expressing concern about passing.
