The government has launched a proposal to increase the time for new cars to have their first MOT from three years to four.
“New vehicles are much safer than they were 50 years ago”, said Junior Transport Minister Andrew Jones, “So it is only right we bring the MOT test up to date to help save motorists money where we can.”
Unsurprisingly, this has not gone down well with aftermarket trade bodies. Stuart James, from RMI,’s Independent Garage Association said: “This proposal would, without doubt, cost consumers more in repair costs, incentivise “clockers” and be detrimental to the UK’s excellent road safety record for no particular gain.” He continued: “At the three year period alone this change will see 400,000 unroadworthy cars on the road for another 12 months and no official mileage recorded until year 4”. James also mentioned that a fine and three penalty points for a ‘blown’ tyre exceeds that of a £54.85 MOT test if the car had been checked by the garage prior.
Wendy Williamson, Chief Executive of the IAAF, concurs with James. She said: “40 percent of all cars fail their MOT currently but even with improvements in vehicle technology, the main causes of MOT failure is still brakes, tyres and lights.”
“That is something clearly down to use of the car and we would oppose the DfT’s proposition on safety grounds”, adding that Britain has the safest roads in Europe on record with the current 3-1-1 MOT reinforcing this.
The IAAF has opened the statement up to its members for comment as both the IAAF and RMI prepare reports to respond to the DfT’s consultation before the proposed deadline on 16th April. If all goes to plan, new rules will apply from 2018.
Interestingly, the government statement was published in error two weeks before it was officially announced, giving trade bodies and road safety groups plenty of time to prepare their ammunition.
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