We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Car website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookies at any time
The start point for the best source of fleet information |
The Government has unveiled plans to extend the period cars need their first MOT test from three to four years.
According to the Department for Transport, which is consulting on the matter, the changes could save motorists £100m a year.
Subject to the consultation, the changes could come into effect from 2018, the Department for Transport said.
The MOT-free period has been set at three years since 1967, when it was reduced from 10 years, but the Government said improvements in safety technology and manufacturing have led to vehicles staying roadworthy for longer.
In the last 10 years, the number of three- or four-year-old cars involved in accidents where vehicle defects were contributory factors fell from 155 in 2006 to 57 in 2015, the DfT said.
Should the plans go ahead, the content of the MOT test would not change.
More than 2.2 million first MOT tests are undertaken each year, costing owners a maximum of £54.85 each.
"We have some of the safest roads in the world and MOT tests play an important role in ensuring the standard of vehicles on our roads," said roads minister Andrew Jones. "New vehicles are much safer than they were 50 years ago and so it is only right we bring the MOT test up to date to help save motorists money where we can."
The RAC welcomed the consultation, but warned the first MOT would be too late for vehicles with the highest mileage counts.
"We are generally supportive of the idea of changing the requirement for a vehicle's first MOT from three years to four, but we do have some concerns about high mileage vehicles," said David Bizley, RAC chief engineer. "For example, it is perfectly possible for a high mileage vehicle at three years old to have done in the region of 100,000 miles which would make an MOT entirely appropriate. However, the situation with an average mileage vehicle would be very different as, at four years old, it may only have around 40,000 miles on the clock. The high mileage vehicle, on the other hand, may have added another 30,000 miles which in our opinion would be far too many before its first MOT."
The RMI, meanwhile, said the proposals could mean there are 400,000 unroadworthy cars on the road a year, thanks to the poor conditions of UK roads.
"This is an unnecessary consultation and there are a number of reasons why the benefits promoted by Government are seriously outweighed by the pitfalls. At the three year period alone this change will see 400,000 unroadworthy cars on the road for another 12 months and no official mileage recorded until year 4," said Stuart James, RMI director. "Although modern cars are better built than ever before, factors such as the condition of Britain's roads combined with high mileages mean that modern cars should be checked more often but in many cases go for many months or even years without being seen by an industry professional."
The consultation can be found here.
BusinessCar magazine ©2019
Business Car Magazine © 2020 | Business Car is part of NS Media Group.
