Government Suggests Mots Could Only Be Required Every 2 Years
The government has suggested that MOTs could only be necessary once every 2 years under plans to shake up the current rules.
MOTs are legally required every 12 months for any vehicles aged 3 years and over, to ensure that they are road legal and meet the minimum safety requirements.
New vehicles are exempt for the first 3 years from the date the vehicle is registered, though regular services are advised and often required after certain mileage figures are reached.
Why Might MOT Rules Be Changing?
The government is under pressure to ease the burden of the rising cost of living and a reduction in MOT requirements has been put forward as one way to do just that.
There has been some pushback, however…
Given that the cost of MOTs is capped by the government (£54.85 for a car and £29.65 for a motorcycle), it’s unlikely to be the biggest expense associated with owning a vehicle.
Essential repairs, maintenance, and servicing can run up to hundreds of pounds every year, and some experts have criticised the short-sighted approach of considering pushing MOTs to a biennial requirement.
Rules differ for HGVs and other fleet vehicles, but the reality is that any consideration over a reprieve in MOT requirements would also consider the impact on commercial vehicles.
What Safety Concerns Are There?
If vehicles have issues that go undetected for longer periods due to the easing of MOT rules, it could result in more vehicles being on the road with problems, causing an increase in risk and a concern for driver’s safety.
When you consider the current shortage of new vehicles and the delay in the manufacturing process for many in-demand commercial vehicles (as well as personal vehicles), the reality is that many vehicles on the road are clocking up significant miles…
Which could lead to a situation where older vehicles that are more prone to breaking down are presenting more issues due to the regular MOT process being extended.
It’s worth noting that nothing has been decided yet and the idea was only suggested by the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, in Parliament last week.
However, that does suggest that the government are actively looking at making changes to the MOT process, whether it’s to ease the financial pressure on households and businesses or to modernise the system.
The concerns over driver safety are relevant, and it’s of particular concern to fleet owners and commercial drivers.
Because safety checks are usually a key part of vehicle maintenance… but those same intensive checks are often not a part of personal vehicle maintenance.
It could also present an issue for many garages and MOT centres, given that one of their main sources of regular custom is through an annual MOT.
MOTs are a key part of the UK’s road safety system, ensuring that vehicles are fit for the road, and any changes should be carefully considered before being introduced.
What do you think of potential changes to the MOT system? Would you welcome a reduced requirement, or do you think the annual MOT requirement is a key part of the UK’s road safety network? Let us know in the comments below…
