IAAF Blog: Government consultation on MOT frequency

Date: Friday 27 January 2023

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One can be forgiven for being completely exasperated with yet another attempt by a government to undermine the sector and the work it does.

Because looking at all the information presented by the government, it would appear the proposition of a 4-1-1 MOT test frequency is closer than even before.

Yes, the MOT test needs modernising, testers know that and have been saying this long before the government put the test under the microscope again.

But it is any suggestion of a change in frequency that gets the sector really riled and rightly so. Go on any MOT forum and you’ll hear cries from workshops the length and breadth of the UK that openly invite any lawmaker to visit their garage and see the importance the MOT test has on keeping our roads the second safest in Europe.

So, if it’s not broke, why fix it? Every conceivable argument to change the MOT test has been put forward by the government to change the MOT test frequency, but it is also everything we’ve heard and overcome before.

Govt: Cars are more reliable
The MOT is a roadworthiness, not a reliability, test. And it’s the same wear and tear items, tyres and brakes, that commonly fail.

Govt: It will save motorists money if we extend the first test to four years.
Those affluent enough to own a car younger than four years old will probably fear not that they will have to cut back on a skinny latte each month to afford the yearly MOT test. Why pick up a safety defect at three years when you can drive another 8,000 miles and pick up a worsening fault at four? (sic)

And what about “Not Zero”, sorry Net Zero, the saviour of the UK economy. Moving to four-year testing will see vehicle emissions increases, because quite simply they won’t be checked at their annual inspection.

The ‘offsetting’ of the impact by better servicing is unlikely to be an effective solution, as most new vehicles are mileage / use based or require a specific service schedule to maintain their warranty. However, it is highly unlikely that brakes or emissions would be checked unless specifically requested by the vehicle owner.

So where do we go from here? In addition to the plentiful, well-resourced and compelling arguments from within the trade, it will be people power that is needed to get the Government to listen to the automotive industry and stop this assault on the safety of motorists and other road users.

The challenge isn’t a new one for the aftermarket – we’ve been fighting for years for the recognition we deserve.

 

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