- Consultation launched to seek views on changing MOTs in light
of advances to vehicle technology and growing popularity of
hybrids and EVs
- Proposals include changing the date of the first MOT for new
vehicles and boosting the monitoring of emissions to tackle
pollution
- Safety will be at the heart of the consultation to ensure
continued confidence on country’s roads
The Department for Transport has today (Wednesday 18 January)
launched a public consultation on the future of MOTs in Great
Britain.
Views are being sought to update MOT testing for cars, motorbikes
and vans to ensure roadworthiness checks continue to balance
costs on motorists while ensuring road safety, keeping up with
advances in vehicle technology, and tackling vehicle emissions.
To ensure MOTs remain fit for the future, the consultation
launched today is seeking views on proposals to change the date
at which the first MOT for new light vehicles is required from 3
to 4 years. The average MOT costs £40 and the move could save
motorists across Great Britain around £100 million a year in MOT
fees.
Since the MOT was introduced in 1960 – and especially in recent
years – there have been major developments in vehicle technology
such as lane-assisted driving which have increased road safety,
while the spread of electric and hybrid cars is rapidly changing
the nature of vehicles on our roads.
Any changes to the MOT will be supported by an information
campaign led by the Department for Transport and the DVSA to
inform drivers of the updates to MOTs and remind them of their
responsibility to keep vehicles roadworthy.
Ensuring that the UK maintains its world-class record on road
safety is at the heart of the proposals. Data shows that most new
vehicles pass the first MOT test at three years. With the number
of casualties in car collisions due to vehicle defects remaining
low, Government analysis shows the change from 3 to 4 years for
the first MOT should not impact road safety.
Undertaking roadworthiness testing four years since the vehicle’s
registration is already standard practice across many European
countries, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, and
Portugal.
The consultation also seeks views on the frequency of MOTs and
how to improve monitoring of emissions to tackle pollution to
bolster the environmental efficiency of vehicles.
Potential new measures include introducing testing of pollutants
such as particulate number (PN) and NOx to ensure diesel, petrol
and hybrid cars always meet emissions requirements throughout
their lifespan.
Among the proposals, the consultation will consider whether
electric vehicles’ batteries should be tested to improve the
safety and reliability of EVs, if additional measures should be
introduced to tackle excessively loud engines, and how the Driver
and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) can continue to crack down
against MOT and mileage fraud.
Notes to editors
- This consultation is only considering light vehicles. Heavy
freight and passenger carrying vehicles are subject to annual
roadworthiness tests starting from the year they are first
registered plus additional requirements for regular maintenance
inspections and on road enforcement by the Driver and Vehicle
Standards Agency (DVSA).
- An assessment of the effects of the change to the date of the
first MOT will be published alongside the consultation document.
- The Government will publish a summary of the responses which
will set out how we intend to proceed in light of the views
expressed.
