A new law has been proposed that could change how often MOT tests are needed.
A new proposed law could change the frequency that MOT tests are required. The aim of the law is to help with the current cost of living crisis, but some have criticised it, claiming it will make roads unnecessarily dangerous.
The plan, which would change MOT certificates to last two years instead of one, was reportedly first suggested by transport minister Grant Shapps at a cabinet meeting. The reasoning behind the idea is to reduce annual costs for households who own cars (which was 87% in 2017, and likely higher now). Cars that are over three years old are currently legally required to have an MOT test every year, at a maximum cost of £54.99.
The law is one of many ideas the government is considering to tackle the cost of living crisis.
Cost of living has become a heated issue, with the pandemic and other factors squeezing the pockets of families across the UK. The Government has pledged to take action to address this, including making changes to benefits, raising tax thresholds, and cutting fuel duties. The proposed changes to MOT’s are another step that may be taken.
The plan has already been widely criticised.
The plan has already received fierce criticism. Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, said, “Though well intended, moving the yearly £55 spend on an MOT to every two years could make costs worse for drivers with higher repair bills, make our roads more dangerous and would put jobs in the garage industry at risk.”
Most critics have focussed on similar themes, with road safety being seen as the most significant issue. Stuart James, chief executive of the Independent Garage Association labelled the plan as “dangerous, unwanted and unreasonable.”
This isn’t the first time that the government has toyed with changing MOT rules. In 2018 they considered raising the requirement for a first MOT from three years to four. This was ultimately scrapped due to road safety concerns. And according to Mr. James, the idea to make MOT’s biannual has been floated at least four times in the last 15 years. In each case, it was decided that the annual savings were not worth sacrificing road safety for.
An extra area of concern this time around is that due to inflation people are already holding off on having their cars serviced, or having non-essential repairs carried out. This greatly raises the risks of faults developing. Without annual MOT tests, many of these faults will go undetected, with potentially catastrophic results.