MOT Reminder Templates for Garages: Texts and Emails That Bring Customers Back
Copy-and-paste SMS and email wording for MOT and service reminders, plus when to send them, for UK independent garages that want repeat work without chasing.
2026-06-24 · 9 min read
The most profitable customer for a garage is the one who comes back. An MOT or service reminder, sent at the right time with the right wording, is one of the cheapest ways to keep the bays full.
This guide gives you copy-and-paste reminder templates for both text and email, covering MOT due, service due, and the follow-up for customers who have not booked yet. Every one is short, polite and written to get a reply.
It also covers when to send each message, what sender name to use, and how to stop relying on memory so the reminders still go out on your busiest week.
Why MOT reminders are the cheapest work you can win
A car that passed with you last year is due again this year. You already hold the vehicle, the customer and the MOT date on file. A reminder is what turns that record into a booking.
The maths is simple. A text costs a few pence. A returning MOT, plus any work that comes off the back of it, is worth far more. Garages that follow up at the right time keep a fuller diary than garages that wait for the phone to ring.
- You already hold the MOT expiry date from the last visit or a registration lookup.
- The customer knows and trusts you, so the booking is easier to win.
- MOT visits often lead to service, tyres or repair work.
- A reminder costs pennies, while a lost customer costs a year of work.
When to send each reminder
Timing matters as much as wording. Send too early and the customer forgets. Send too late and they have already booked elsewhere, or driven on an expired MOT.
A practical schedule for most garages looks like the table below. In Mechanics Hub these run automatically at around 30 days before an MOT and 21 days before a service, with a 7-day follow-up if the booking is still open.
| Reminder | When to send | Why this timing |
|---|---|---|
| MOT due | About 30 days before the expiry date | Gives the customer time to book without panic, and beats competitors to the slot. |
| Service due | About 21 days before the due date | A service is less urgent than an MOT, so a slightly shorter lead keeps it relevant. |
| Follow-up | About 7 days before, if still not booked | A gentle nudge catches anyone who meant to book and forgot. |
- Send during working hours, not late at night.
- Avoid sending the same customer the same message twice in a day.
- Stop the follow-up as soon as the customer books.
MOT reminder text message templates
Text is the strongest channel for a reminder because it gets read within minutes. Keep it short, name the garage, include the registration, and make booking a single step.
Swap the parts in brackets for your own details. Keep your garage name in the message so the customer always knows who it is from.
| Use case | Example text message |
|---|---|
| MOT due (first reminder) | Hi [Name], your [Make Model] [REG] is due its MOT by [date]. Want us to book it in? Reply YES or call us on [phone]. [Garage Name] |
| MOT follow-up (not booked) | Hi [Name], a quick reminder that the MOT on [REG] runs out on [date]. We have slots free this week if you would like one. [Garage Name] |
| MOT due very soon | Hi [Name], the MOT on [REG] expires in [X] days. Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine, so reply or call [phone] to book. [Garage Name] |
| Service due | Hi [Name], your [Make Model] [REG] is due a service. Want us to get it booked in? Reply or call [phone]. [Garage Name] |
- Keep it under about 160 characters so it sends as a single text.
- Put the registration in every message so it is clear which car.
- Give one clear action: reply, or call a number.
- Always show your garage name as the sender or inside the text.
MOT and service reminder email templates
Email suits a longer, lower-cost reminder, and it gives room for your opening hours or a booking link. It works best alongside a text rather than instead of one.
Subject lines do most of the work in email. A vague subject gets ignored, so name the car and the action. The subject lines below tend to get opened.
| Reminder | Example subject line |
|---|---|
| MOT due | Your MOT is due soon, [REG] |
| Service due | Time for a service, [REG] |
| Follow-up | Don't forget, the MOT on [REG] runs out on [date] |
- Open with the customer name and the vehicle.
- State the due date clearly near the top.
- Give one simple way to book: reply, call, or a link.
- Keep your garage name, address and hours in the footer.
What makes a reminder actually get a reply
The garages that win the booking are not the ones that send the most messages. They send clear, short, well-timed ones that respect the customer's time.
- Short and specific beats long and detailed.
- One clear action, not three.
- The right timing matters more than the number of messages.
- A real sender name the customer recognises.
- An easy way to opt out, so you stay on the right side of the rules.
Stop relying on memory and automate the follow-up
The hardest part of reminders is not the wording. It is remembering to send them on your busiest week, when the workshop is full and the phone will not stop ringing.
This is where a garage system earns its keep. If the MOT and service dates are stored against the vehicle, the reminders can go out on schedule on their own, and stop the moment the customer books.
Mechanics Hub stores the MOT and service dates from the job or a registration lookup, then sends MOT reminders around 30 days out and service reminders around 21 days out, with a 7-day follow-up if the booking is still open. Every message is logged, so you can see exactly what was sent and when.
- Reminders sent on schedule without a diary note.
- Text for urgency, email for low-cost follow-up.
- Your garage name set as the text sender.
- A full record of every reminder sent.
Want reminders that send themselves?
Mechanics Hub stores MOT and service dates against each vehicle and sends the reminders for you, with text, email and a full audit trail. Spend the time on cars, not on chasing.
A few rules to keep your reminders tidy
A reminder to an existing customer about their own vehicle is normally treated as a service message rather than marketing, but it still pays to keep it tidy and respectful.
The basics are easy. Use a recognisable sender name, only message customers who gave you their details, and give an easy way to opt out. Keep genuine reminders separate from sales promotions.
- Use a clear sender name, not a random number.
- Only contact customers who shared their details with you.
- Offer a simple opt-out and honour it.
- Keep service reminders separate from marketing offers.
Useful next steps
If reminders are the part of the admin you keep forgetting, that is exactly the part worth automating first.
Garage management software FAQ
When should I send an MOT reminder to a customer?
About 30 days before the MOT expiry date works well for most garages. It gives the customer time to book without leaving it so late that they drive on an expired MOT or book elsewhere. A short follow-up about 7 days before catches anyone who has not booked yet.
What should an MOT reminder text say?
Keep it short: the customer name, the vehicle and registration, the MOT due date, and one clear way to book, such as reply YES or call the garage. Always include your garage name so the customer knows who the message is from.
Is it better to send MOT reminders by text or email?
Text is read fastest and is best for time-sensitive reminders close to the due date. Email costs less and suits a longer message or a booking link. Many garages use both: an earlier email as a low-cost nudge, then a text as the due date gets closer.
Can I send MOT reminders automatically?
Yes. If your garage software stores the MOT and service dates against each vehicle, it can send the reminders on a set schedule and stop once the customer books. Mechanics Hub sends MOT reminders around 30 days out and service reminders around 21 days out, with a 7-day follow-up.
How do I know when a customer's MOT is due?
The MOT expiry date is recorded after a test, and you can also pull it from a registration lookup when you add the vehicle. Storing it against the vehicle record means you, or your software, can act on it before it runs out.
Are MOT reminder texts allowed under data protection rules?
A reminder to an existing customer about their own vehicle is generally treated as a service message rather than marketing. Good practice is to use a clear sender name, only message customers who gave you their details, and offer an easy opt-out. Keep genuine reminders separate from promotional offers.
Bottom line
A reminder is a small message with a big return. The wording matters, the timing matters more, and sending it every time matters most of all.
Mechanics Hub keeps the MOT and service dates against each vehicle and sends the reminders for you, so the work comes back without you having to remember. Borrow the templates above, then let the system do the chasing.