Thousands of cars would become 'death traps on wheels' under plans to make owners get MOTs every two years rather than one, motorists groups have warned.
The Department for Transport (DfT)'s consultation into proposed changes for MOT tests has sounded alarm throughout the industry, amid fears of the safety of vehicles if they are not checked annually. The RAC said latest data shows that around 7.3million vehicles fail their MOT each year, the majority of which are dangerous defects to brakes and tyres, accounting for 88 per cent of failures.
And separate road casualty data shows that brakes and tyres are the defects linked to most serious injuries and deaths in the UK, with the DfT's latest figures showing 26 people were killed in crashes in Britain in 2021 when vehicle defects were a contributory factor.
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The DfT has argued that advances in vehicle technology mean the annual MOT may no longer be needed, but motoring groups, garages and industry bosses have dismissed the argument, saying delaying checks could mean more faults will build-up and become more dangerous before the vehicle is tested.
A statement on the DfT website says: "In this initial stage, we are seeking to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current system, options for change and the issues that arise. Part 2 is a call for evidence on these matters. We will consult publicly on any detailed proposals that emerge from the review and produce impact assessments on any such proposals.
"Many of the questions concern the linkages between developments in vehicle technology and MOT testing. To assist with the technical aspects of the review, the government is appointing a consultant to advise on the review and will draw on the expertise of industry groups from the motoring and garages sectors."
Jacqui Winter, who has owned Corbridge Road Garage near Consett, County Durham, for the past 23 years with her partner Paul Price, added her voice to the growing number of independent garages objecting to the changes.
"We both this will be a disaster and have no idea why the Government would risk people's safety in this way," said Jacqui, 53. "People could be driving around with bald tyres and failing brakes and it would not be picked up until a year later than it is now. A lot of people don't bother to do anything between their MOTs, so the test is often the only time the car is checked for safety each year. We often have people who have bought their car new and the first time it has been near a garage is for its first MOT after three years. These cars can have developed some serious wear and tear and potential safety issues in that time, and these families would be driving around in these cars for another year under the new proposals.
"The plans might be designed to save money, but we think they may well cost lives. We're not convinced they will save money either, as it's mostly cheaper to catch a problem early and repair it there and then. Most of our customers would prefer a smaller bill every year than a big bill every two years. Extending the time between tests will not cause the problems to go away, but it will mean that people will have to find a big chunk of money when their car gets its MOT."
Corbridge Road Garage carries out around 4,500 MOT teste every year and, in line with national statistics, the main points of failure are brakes, tyres and suspension, which Paul says are partly due to the poor state of the roads around the local area.
"An MOT test is just a snapshot in time," he said. "You could drive out here on the day you pass your test, hit a pothole and break two coil springs. It's bad enough that someone could be transporting their children around for a year after that, but two years would be terrible - and dangerous. The MOT is a safety test and it's not safe to leave cars to develop faults for two years."
The couple's fears were echoed by Edmund King, president of the AA, who said: 'If you move the MOT from every year to two years that means you would have an increase of death traps on wheels on the road because there would be no independent check on those cars. And within two years, a driver doing 30,000 miles a year, it is very easy to have bald tyres and no brakes, and that's why the MOT is good."
And RAC's head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes called for the Government to consider how many miles a vehicle is driven when it makes alterations to the current schedule. "While we're not opposed to delaying a new vehicle's first MOT, we believe there should be a requirement for particularly high mileage vehicles to be tested sooner," he said. "If the Government is looking to improve the MOT, now is the ideal time to take into account how much a vehicle is driven alongside the number of years it's been on the road. We're also disappointed the Government is still entertaining the idea of increasing the time between MOTs. Our research clearly shows drivers don't agree with this and believe it's dangerous."
The Government's proposals have put MOT tests in the spotlight, but there is a lot of confusion about their purpose is and the laws surrounding them. Here we take a look at the history of the test and what it means for modern motorists:
History of the MOT test
The MOT test was introduced in 1960 and its name comes from the then Ministry of Transport, which is now the Department for Transport. The MOT test was originally required ten years after a vehicle's registration, then annually from then on. The time before a vehicle's first test was reduced to three years after registration in 1967. The test has been tweaked over the years as cars changed, with the most recent change was in 2018, when three new new defect categories were introduced: minor; major; dangerous. The two latter defect types automatically results in a failed test.
The current MOT rules
Currently, a vehicle needs to pass an MOT test three years after it was first registered, then every year after that from the date of the last test.
The Government is considering changing the frequency of MOT tests from yearly to every other year. There are changes for new vehicles too, with the date of the first MOT test being extended by a year to four years under consideration, which is the standard in many EU countries such as France, Italy, Spain and Portugal
What does an MOT check?
When you take your car for an MOT, the mechanic will check:
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Registration plate
- Lights
- Steering and suspension
- Wipers and washers
- Windscreen
- Horn
- Seat belts and seats
- Doors
- Mirrors
- Wheels and tyres
- Brakes
- Fuel system
- Exhaust system
- Vehicle emissions
Does an MOT test mean that I don't need to service my car?
No. AN MOT test checks for safety only. Routine maintenance such as oil changes are not covered by the test
What happens after the MOT test
After your MOT test, your mechanic should contact you to tell you the results. These will either be:
Pass
Pass with advisories
Pass with minor faults
Fail with major or dangerous faults
What happens if your car fails its MOT
If your car fails its MOT with major or dangerous faults, you have to get each problem fixed and book another MOT within 10 days, which will only test the areas that your car failed in last time. If your MOT test has identified other, less immediate problems- ‘minor faults’ - these are yet serious enough to cause your car to fail its MOT but should be sorted as soon as possible to avoid them getting worse.
Can I drive my car if it fails its MOT?
If your MOT has found dangerous faults and your vehicle has failed, you're not allowed to drive it until repairs have been carried out.
If you’re caught driving a car that’s unroadworthy you could:
- Be given a fine of up to £2,500
- Get points on your licence
- Get a driving ban
How long after my MOT expires can I drive?
s soon as your MOT has expired, you’re not legally allowed to drive your car. There's no grace period and the only allowed exception is to drive to a pre-booked MOT appointment. Drivers can be fined up to £1,000 for using a vehicle without a valid MOT and it will also invalidate their insurance.
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