More than 15,000 failed motorbike MOT tests could have been prevented in the 2023/24 financial year, according to new research. Riders are now being urged to perform a few simple checks before their vehicle’s MOT to avoid unnecessary fees.

Around 979,500 MOTs were taken for motorcycles (class one and two vehicles) during this period. DVSA data shows that approximately 85,500 failed – around 9% of the total number. The study calculates that almost £47,000 was spent on MOT retests that could have been avoided with better preparation.

The statistics come from Go.Compare motorbike insurance, which used a combination of survey data and official DVSA testing figures to estimate how much was needlessly lost at testing centres last year. The insurance comparison site states that these failures can be attributed to factors that riders can check and fix at home before a test.

Issues with lamps and reflectors were the biggest reason for avoidable failures, with around 11,440 tests failing due to this issue in the 2023/24 testing year. Tyres caused 2,500 failures in the same period, while vehicle identification led to a further 1,114 failures. Had motorbike owners looked into and rectified these issues sooner, they could have prevented a failed MOT.

Around one in 10 motorists miss the free partial retest window after a failed MOT, says Go.Compare. Assuming the same for motorbike riders, the insurance comparison site calculated that the UK’s riders spent approximately £46,935 on retests that could have been avoided. This is based on the maximum cost for a motorbike MOT of £29.65.

Tom Banks, motoring expert at Go.Compare, says: “Our research shows that thousands of pounds is being wasted on easily preventable MOT failures, but preparing for the test properly can help you to avoid incurring extra costs.

“There are some simple checks that you can perform at home before you book your bike in for its MOT, and they could save you time and money by preventing a failure. For example, make sure your lights are working properly and replace any faulty bulbs, then check the tread depth of your tyres to see if they meet the minimum requirements.

“If your motorbike fails its MOT, don’t worry; you still have a 10-day window to get your bike in for a free retest. If you can get it fixed before this, you shouldn’t need to pay for another test. Remember, your bike won’t be road-legal if it fails its MOT due to a dangerous fault, meaning your insurance will likely become invalid as well. In this case, you’ll need to get the issues rectified before you can ride it again.”

More information on preventing avoidable motorbike MOT failures can be found on Go.Compare’s website.