Government proposes changes to the MOT – AA
reaction
The Department for Transport has today launched a consultation
recommending changes to the MOT*. These include changing the date
of the first MOT from three years to four years, while asking
about views on the frequency of the MOT test.
Edmund King, AA president, said: "The MOT plays a vital role in
ensuring that vehicles on our roads are safe and well maintained,
and while not a formal recommendation, we totally oppose any
change from an annual MOT.
“Last year, 83% of drivers said that the annual MOT was ‘very
important’** for keeping our cars and roads as safe as possible,
which highlights why an annual MOT must remain in place.
"With one in 10 cars failing their first MOT, we strongly
discourage the government from extending a car's first MOT to the
fourth anniversary due to road safety concerns.
“When this proposal was last considered in 2017-18***, the
four-year policy did not obtain public support - with many citing
concerns over vehicle safety as the main reason for opposing the
move. We do not believe this to have changed over time. Safety
items like tyres and brakes can often be deficient after three
years.
“However, there are aspects of this consultation which we
support, such as ensuring the MOT is fit for purpose for the new
technology in vehicles. Making sure MOT testers check and test
advanced safety features and autonomous systems are important as
the nation’s car parc evolves.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
* Proposed changes to make
MOTs fit for the future - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
** AA Yonder Driver Poll, May 2022. 13,062 respondents.
*** First MOT test to remain
at 3 years to protect road safety - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
