New proposals unveiled which would extend the period before the first MOT test is needed from 3 to 4 years.



Boost for motorists as government proposes no MOT test for first 4 years.
New cars and motorcycles could no longer require an MOT for the first 4 years on the road under plans to save motorists more than £100 million a year.

Proposals unveiled today (22 January 2017) by Transport Minister Andrew Jones would extend the period before the first MOT test is needed from the current 3 years to 4.

The government is consulting on the plans which will bring England, Scotland and Wales in line with Northern Ireland and many other European countries including France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Denmark and Norway.

In 1967 the MOT-free period was reduced from 10 to 3 years. Now, safer technology and improved manufacturing means new vehicles stay roadworthy for longer.

Andrew Jones said:

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.

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.

It is a legal requirement that all vehicles are roadworthy, regardless of whether they have passed an MOT test and the content of the tests will not be changed.

More than 2.2 million cars each year have to undergo their first MOT test, which costs owners a maximum of £54.85.

In the last 10 years, the number of 3 or 4-year-old cars involved in accidents where a vehicle defect was a contributory factor has fallen by almost two thirds, from 155 in 2006 to 57 in 2015.

The most common reasons for cars to fail their first tests are faulty lights, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

In addition, almost half of faults found during all MOT tests could be avoided by carrying out simple checks and maintenance, including replacing bulbs, checking tyres and oil as well as ensuring windscreen wipers work, and the DVSA is running an ongoing campaign to help motorists ensure their vehicles are safe at all times.

Subject to the public consultation, the changes could come into effect in 2018.

Who is going to REMIND the vehicle owners that the FOUR years have been and gone and it is time for them to get the vehicle MOT'D.

It is not a great idea! It is so easy to forget just how long you have owned things.... even VEHICLES!

newer vehicles are far more complex and we have the potential for faults to go unfixed for a long period of time , on top of that many parts are cut to to bone in terms of weight and when they fail, they fail quickly despite being good for years ...I still think the 3 year grace on new cars is still pushing it .. I myself jack up my car every six months and go over the running gear and correct any problems ... it also helps prevent any big surprises at the next MOT

Originally Posted by pedoja

Who is going to REMIND the vehicle owners that the FOUR years have been and gone and it is time for them to get the vehicle MOT'D.

It is not a great idea! It is so easy to forget just how long you have owned things.... even VEHICLES!

I suppose you could always take responsibility for your own vehicle and make a note of when its MOT is due? Or is that asking too much of people these days?

The MOT test is not there to be an inconvenience to the vehicle owner, it is there to keep them, and others, safe on the roads.

Ped If like me you tax your vehicle for 12 months on the 4th tax renewal it will tell you that you need an M.O.T. to tax it .

Originally Posted by pedoja

Who is going to REMIND the vehicle owners that the FOUR years have been and gone and it is time for them to get the vehicle MOT'D.

It is not a great idea! It is so easy to forget just how long you have owned things.... even VEHICLES!

..Surely its up to us as drivers to know when our MOT is due,just like insurance and not up to another to remind us,

Originally Posted by pedoja

Who is going to REMIND the vehicle owners that the FOUR years have been and gone and it is time for them to get the vehicle MOT'D.

It is not a great idea! It is so easy to forget just how long you have owned things.... even VEHICLES!

How does this change if it's 3 or 4 years?


Personally I'd like it kept as 3, 4 is fine if the owner gets the car serviced regular, but it's amazing how many don't.

Why do we have to be the same as other European countries, Are we not pulling out of their bureaucracy? ;-)

4 years is fine.

It's not the frequency of the test that's the problem - it's the people that are conducting them.

The reason that MOTs cost us so much money is that the tests are entrusted to private garages, who have an incentive to find problems to fix. The best solution would be to take the test out of the hands of garages.

As usual, the Germans have got it right - the tests are done by independent test centres (TUV, DEKRA). The test is done every 2 years from year 3 onwards.

If you want to avoid unnecessary work on your car, the closest we have to the German system is to take your car to a local authority test centre, like Sefton Council's:
https://www.sefton.gov.uk/parking,-r...nd-repair.aspx

Straight to the point.

The reason that MOTs cost us so much money is that the tests are entrusted to private garages, who have an incentive to find problems to fix. The best solution would be to take the test out of the hands of garages.

Originally Posted by Ceam

Why do we have to be the same as other European countries, Are we not pulling out of their bureaucracy? ;-)

Interesting that people find European standards more bureaucratic, even when they involve less bureaucracy