Motorists are finding out they can reduce MOT repair costs with homemade 5p tip
British road users could dramatically reduce their MOT repair bills with a homemade hack available to every vehicle owner.
Drivers can reduce the risk of damage and cut down their MOT repair bills with a simple tip costing road users just 5p.
Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch has urged road users to “cushion car doors” before opening handles to avoid unwelcome dents and scratches.
Swinging a door open could hit obstacles such as other vehicles or columns in multi-storey car parks.
Meanwhile, jewellery such as rings may accidentally knock the bodywork leading to hefty damage.
Instead, Sam has called on road users to buy a packet of baby nappies and use these as a protector.
Sam explained: “Many of us might use our hands to wedge the car open without touching the other car, but if you’re not careful, you might hurt yourself or scratch a car with any jewellery. Instead, place something soft between the two.
“One hack we’ve seen people doing is using a nappy to cushion car doors – and with some costing as little as 5.9p per nappy, keeping one in your glovebox could be useful for tight emergencies.
“For the best coverage, specific car door bumper guards can help reduce damage and provide convenience and reliability – perfect for those tight squeezes with your hands full.”
MOT fees are capped at £54.85 but any repairs picked up by technicians are likely to cost more than 12 months ago.
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The warning comes after data from The Motor Ombudsman shows 75 percent of vehicle repairers say rising costs are among the biggest challenges facing garages in 2024.
Admirably, 54 percent of garages have said they are trying to avoid passing on higher operational costs to worried consumers.
However, many firms warn they have been left with little choice but to raise bills to make up for lost revenues.
Meanwhile, the Association of British Insurers confirmed the cost of repairs jumped by 32 percent in the third quarter of 2023.
Sam added: “Maintaining a safe parking distance from other cars and barriers isn’t always possible in public car parks. Whether your neighbouring car has parked poorly or your car is larger than the standard, squeezing into tight spots could be costly.
“Car care isn’t only about maintaining and cleaning your vehicle. Having simple tricks on hand to prevent damage, such as a car door dent, is a good idea to keep costs down and your car looking its best.”
