Motor parts reconditioning specialist DPF Clean Team is reminding garages that removing a DPF is illegal and specialist cleaning should never be a last resort.

Recent research from GSF Car Parts revealed the amount of DPF-related jobs at garages is on the up, with some still offering to remove or modify the DPF – a practice that is illegal and will cause a vehicle to fail an MOT test.

The report also showed the majority of garages will only contact a specialist cleaning company as a last resort.

Director of DPF Clean Team Cameron Bryce said: “Charging customers for replacement DPFs or pouring numerous treatments into the filter in an attempt to clear a blockage is not necessarily the best way to solve a DPF issue. The cost of a new DPF is often more than £1,000, while a specialist clean can be done for a few hundred pounds. 

"Many motorists are unaware that they are the ones held responsible when a DPF has been removed, and will subsequently fail an MOT, so a professional clean should be the first resort solution for garages that strive to deliver exceptional customer service."

DPFs became mandatory for all new diesel vehicles in 2009 and in 2014, the MOT test included a visual inspection to ensure the vehicle has a DPF in place.