What's the profit margin on an MOT?

[megaphone]

So an MOT costs £56 list? I've just got my car done by a local garage for £30, it took them nearly an hour, they said they are not allowed to do them in less than 40 mins. The guy said the kit they need costs thousands, surely they have to pay a fee to the DOT? Can anyone enlighten me?

[Robmarriott]

A one man MOT test lane will cost in the region of £15-30k, the fee per test isn't that much from memory, about a fiver.

[Andyjc86]

£2 per test to vosa, about £30k for the equipment. Calibration every year and a full time tester @ approx £20k per year around here