The Driver and Vehicle Agency is raking in more than £2 million a year from motorists who miss their MOT and driving test appointments, new figures reveal.
The latest data shows the agency has collected a total of £7.1 million in forfeited fees since 2020.
Under current rules, when a driver fails to attend a booked MOT or driving test, the fee is lost because the appointment slot often cannot be reallocated at short notice.
The total collected from missed appointments has risen every year, climbing from £275,006 in 2020/21 during the COVID pandemic to £2.1 million in 2024/25.
Missed MOT appointments generated the bulk of the income, bringing in £1,946,093 in the most recent financial year alone.
No-shows at driving test centres added a further £154,469 in the same period.
Over the full five years, MOT no-shows netted the DVA £6.6 million, with missed driving tests accounting for a further £519,803.
Balmoral test centre in Belfast was the biggest single earner, with missed appointments generating more than £650,000 over the five-year period.
Newbuildings in Derry saw the sharpest rise of any centre, with no-show income climbing from just over £20,000 in 2020/21 to more than £212,000 last year.
At the other end of the scale, Larne recorded the lowest MOT no-show income of any centre, generating just under £264,000 over the five years and £79,700 in the most recent financial year.
Omagh was the second lowest, with a combined five-year total of just under £283,000.
The figures come amid waiting times for MOT and driving tests across Northern Ireland, with some motorists facing delays in securing an appointment.
West Tyrone SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan, who obtained the figures through an Assembly Question, told The Irish News it was unlikely motorists were missing appointments by choice given the fees involved.
“There has been a significant increase in the number of people missing MOT and driving test appointments, costing them money while leaving valuable slots unused,” he said.
“Everyone knows it has become more difficult to access these tests in recent years and this increase in no-shows must be understood in that context.
“Given the costs involved, it is unlikely that people are missing these appointments by choice.
“That raises real questions about flexibility in the system and whether more can be done to ensure appointments are used effectively rather than wasted.”
He added that the scale of the figures pointed to the need for a broader review of how appointments are booked and managed.
“We need to examine whether changes to the system could help reduce missed appointments and improve access for everyone,” he said.
A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson said: “The Driver and Vehicle Agency’s (DVA) vehicle and driving test booking system automatically sends email and SMS reminders to customers two days before their test. Introduced in July 2023, customers only need to opt out if they do not wish to receive them. The DVA also introduced a revised vehicle testing cancellation policy in September 2025.
“As part of this change, the previous requirement for one clear working days’ notice was reduced to a maximum of four hours’ notice before the appointment time for private cars and light goods vehicles. The update was designed to reduce missed appointments, maximise the use of available testing slots, and improve overall access for customers. Early indications suggest the revised policy is already having a positive impact.”