Proposals to ensure MOTs remain ‘fit for the future’

The Department for Transport says planned changes to MOT testing will balance costs for motorists while ensuring road safety, keeping up with advances in vehicle technology, and tackling vehicle emissions. Put out for consultation on 18 January, the plans would increase the date at which the first MOT for new cars, motorbikes and vans is required from three to four years.

The DfT says data shows that most new vehicles pass the first MOT test at three years – adding that with the number of casualties in car collisions due to vehicle defects remaining low, analysis shows the change ‘should not impact road safety’. It also points to the fact that four years is standard practice across many European countries, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.

While not opposed to the move, the RAC does however believe there should be a different approach for high-mileage vehicles. Nicholas Lyes, RAC head of roads policy, said: “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.

“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 has been on the road.”