The DfT consults on MOTs – if it ain’t broke…

One of the more worrying legislative developments to emerge last year was the suggestion that MOTs could shift from every 12 to every 24 months.

Originally mooted as a measure to support households with the cost-of-living crisis, the idea was quickly criticised for its flaws by the RAC, IGA and us [https://www.autoresource.co.uk/resources/lkq-euro-car-parts-andy-hamiltonmove-to-scrap-annual-mot-significant-risk-to-driver-safety-and-future-of-the-aftermarket/] among many others.

So, I won’t dwell too much on the reasons why again here. ?

The agenda has moved on beyond cost of living, with the DfT now interested in a more technical analysis of what safety checks the cars of today and tomorrow realistically need.

This in itself is not controversial and clearly sensible given the rapid technological development of the UK parc.

Sadly the 24-month proposal remains on the table though fortunately the DfT seem to be moving away from this as a preferred outcome. But, it now comes with a new twist: shifting the date new cars need their first MOT from 3 to 4 years to a 4-1-1 model. ?

On the surface, this appears a more logical proposal than the shift to 24 months (3-2-2). Modern vehicles are, fortunately, becoming safer thanks to advances in technology and design. They are also lasting longer.

But this misses a very important point. On the current 3-year first test system, a large proportion of cars still fail; between 30 and 40 per cent. More significantly, the reason for this, in most cases, is because of tyres. Clearly, tyres are a critical safety critical issue and one that should not go ignored for another day, let alone 12 months.

Tyres, alas, are still wheels made of rubber and while they have no doubt advanced it has been at a far more incremental pace than the car itself.

Then there is impact on the industry. We’d estimate that this would see the delay of 2 million vehicles entering the aftermarket. That is a huge volume of work supporting many thousands of small businesses cut off at the stroke of a pen.

It would also come at perhaps the worst possible time. The sector is still reeling from the impact of the pandemic and then the huge disruption to the MOT cycle caused by the extensions granted in 2020, with work volumes swinging wildly.

Now, garages are already fighting hard for work as consumers cut back on discretionary spending, with MOTs obviously being an essential purchase. Many are also relying on government support with their energy bills just to keep trading. This is set to be reduced from April.

We recognise that modern vehicles have evolved at a greater pace now than perhaps any time in the last century. EV, hybrid, on-board computation, ADAS – all have changed the game and so we fully anticipated a review of the MOT regime to address this technological progress.

But this is far more wide-ranging than the industry expected and is looking at reform in the wrong places. ?

We agree whole heartedly with organisations like the AA [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/cars/article-11650629/Government-considers-two-year-car-MOTs-cut-cost-living.html] who have already spoken out against the proposals and the huge safety risks they pose to British roads, which are today some of the safest in the world. The DfT’s own consultation cites several EU countries that have their first test at 4 years but all of them have higher road casualty figures.

Fortunately, we are at the consultation stage and, as the industry showed with the CMA’s engagement with MVBER, we can make a difference when we speak up.

We will be engaging with the process, alongside UKAFCAR and IAAF. We urge you to do the same too. Here is the link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-date-of-the-first-mot-test-and-research-into-other-mot-enhancements/changes-to-the-date-of-the-first-mot-test-and-research-into-other-mot-enhancements