The government is currently considering a change in the law surrounding MoT tests for vehicles in the UK. If the proposed changes get the thumbs up, motorists will only need to MoT their vehicles once every two years, compared to the current requirement to test cars annually.
And not only that, owners of brand new cars could be granted an extra year before they need to get their vehicle tested. Currently new cars are put through an MoT at three years old, but new plans from the government could see this being changed to four years.
The MoT system was first introduced in 1967. Only vehicles deemed to be roadworthy and safe are issued a certificate. The government have recognised that vehicles have come on a long way since the sixties, both in terms of design and safety.
Phillip Hammond, Transport Secretary is in favour of the changes. He believes that cars are much safer now than fifty years ago. He explains “Car technology has come a long way since the 1960s, that’s why we think its right to look again to check whether we still have the right balance of MoT testing for modern vehicles. We want to work with the industry and motorists to get the decision absolutely right”.
These proposals could save motorists hundreds of pounds. Over the course of ten years a vehicle may only need to be tested four times, compared to the eight times under the current law.
While potentially good news for motorists, the new rules could have a huge impact on the 1,900 MoT garages in this country who will undoubtedly be affected, in an already rocky economy. Many garages rely on the annual MoT tests for additional income.
And its not just garages who are concerned about the possible changes, expert analysts have predicted that the new rules could lead to thirty extra deaths on the road each year.
Which?, consumer champions, believe that the financial savings for drivers won’t be great, and the safety implications overweigh the slight reduction in annual motoring costs. Senior Motoring Research at Which?, David Evans, explains, “Increasing the period between MoTs is unwise and will, in my view, lead to poorer safety on UK roads”.
The government is currently reviewing three options in terms of changes to the MoT system:
Option 1 – New cars to be put through an MoT at four years, and then an annual MoT thereafter.
Option 2 – New cars to be put through an MoT at four years, then a second test after two years, then annual testing thereafter.
Option 3 – New cars to be put through an MoT at four years, then three tests at every 2 years, followed by annual testing thereafter.
Despite the possible savings, it would appear that the majority of drivers would prefer to stick with the current rules surrounding the MoT, according to the AA. Edmund King, AA President said ‘We have surveyed 60,000 drivers and most of them think we should stick with the current regime. Rather than being a burden on the driver, we think it’s a good safety reminder for once a year”.
Think Insurance, the specialist motor trade insurance provider, were surprised to hear of the proposed changes. Garrath Hussey, Chief Executive explains “ We are all in favour of anything that can save motorists money, but not at the expense of safety”.
Hussey goes on to explain that the impact it will have on garages in the UK is also a major concern. “Many independent garages in this country will be worried about the proposed changes to the MoT system. The new rules could see a significant drop in revenue for these businesses. The economy is a tough place for independent businesses and we would urge the government to take this into consideration when finalising the plans.