Government Ditches MOT Reform

The government has decided to scrap proposals to reduce the frequency of the MOT test, bowing to pressure from motoring and road safety groups. The move was announced by Transport Secretary Justine Greening and means that new vehicles will continue to be tested three years after they are purchased and then every year after that.

Ministers had been thinking about delaying the first inspection until the fourth year after a car was purchased. Then subsequent tests would follow every two years. The reform was part of a drive by the government to get rid of red tape in a “bonfire of regulations” focused on stimulating economic and business growth.

Advocates for the changes argued that vehicles were better built and more reliable than before, and ministers were wanting to be seen as driver friendly by easing the cost of motoring amid rising fuel prices. However, Greening has axed the plans after reviewing research from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). The study showed that over 25% of MOT tests conducted in 2010-11 didn’t catch routine defects and wrongly passed thousands of vehicles as being worthy to be on the road when they weren’t.

Motoring groups, however, had warned that reducing the frequency of the tests would lead to more unsafe vehicles being operated on the nation’s roads, and in turn put safety at risk. After the VOSA study was revealed, the government said it would conduct its own investigation to determine the reliability of testing centres. As part of this, the MOT certificate will be changed to include the mileage of the car for the previous three years and the day of the test. This is aimed at deterring people from tampering with the odometer to hide the true mileage of a vehicle.

Greening said during the announcement that garages are vital in ensuring that the country’s roads continue to be some of the safest in the world. Most of them are doing well, but the latest figures show that there can be improvements. She wants all motorists to be confident that a garage visit ends with their vehicles being repaired to a high standard from a reputable mechanic, instead of being uncertain about the quality and cost of service. Providing the best information about garage performance to motorists is key to achieving this goal, she added.

The move has been welcomed by several motoring groups. RAC Foundation director Stephen Glaister says motorists will be shocked about how many defects are undetected during MOT tests. They are pleased ministers have decided to keep the current testing frequency and focus on garages that aren’t conducting checks to standard. Helping drivers spot “clocked” cars will also be of benefit. Motorists pay good money for MOT tests and have a right to expect quality and accuracy in return.

Retail Motor Industry Federation chairman Alec Murray also welcomed the move, saying that the government’s decision has reduced the risk of more road injuries and deaths that would have potentially happened with less frequent tests. Halford Autocentres chief executive Bill Duffy says the company welcomes the “sensible decision”, as less frequent tests would have been unwanted, expensive and dangerous.

Consumer watchdog Which? had expressed its objection to the reform proposals when they were first revealed last April by then Transport Secretary Philip Hammond. In welcoming the decision to scrap the idea, executive director Richard Lloyd said that this is good news, as MOT tests every two years would have led to a reduction in the safety of UK vehicles. The organisation believes that less regular servicing could result in faults going undetected for twice as long before they are discovered. However, their own investigations have found poor practice throughout the sector, even from garages that were code of practice members. Beyond extending the codes, it’s vital that the codes are enforced and mystery shopping is increased to improve standards.