But that’s not all March has to offer. Thanks to the wave of MOTs that came as a result of last year’s extension coming to an end, it’s also the last ‘normal’ month of MOT demand until later in the year.
So, you should be making this month all about mopping up the last of the MOT opportunities. Many of your customers might not have used their vehicles throughout lockdown, which can lead to common faults and MOT failures – so there’s a lot of work out there for the garage who is prepared to take it on.
And preparation really is key.
You can make sure you’re getting ahead now, by scheduling work in for the next month, carefully managing your workflow to avoid turning people away.
Our top tips for making the most of March MOT ‘madness’
• Use your data – Government research shows that 40% of MOT customers prefer to choose a garage they have used before, so work through your customer database to identify customers in need of an MOT
• Pick up the phone – Contact your customers by phone rather than blanket email or text. One garage owner reported a 43% uptake on bookings in a single day after switching to making phone calls to his customers
• Get social – Use your social media pages to let your customers know you are open and spark the reminder that their MOT could be due – some might have forgotten while they’ve not been using their vehicles as frequently. It’s also a great channel to mention the Covid safety measures you have in place, to help put customers minds at ease about booking with you
• Be searchable – Make sure you’re listed on relevant online directories and local lists, so when potential new customers are searching for a garage, you’re in the mix
• Think ahead – Use the opportunity to get ahead for next year and set up reminders for customers on their MOT deadlines. Keep them coming back to you for their next test.