The Department for Transport has launched a public consultation on the future of MOTs in Great Britain. Views are being sought to update MOT testing for cars, motorbikes, and vans to ensure roadworthiness checks continue to balance costs on motorists while ensuring road safety, keeping up with advances in vehicle technology, and tackling vehicle emissions. Since the MOT was introduced in 1960 – and especially in recent years – there have been major developments in vehicle technology such as lane-assisted driving which have increased road safety, while the spread of electric and hybrid cars is rapidly changing the nature of vehicles on our roads. The average MOT costs £40 and the move could save motorists across Great Britain around £100 million a year in MOT fees.
Among the proposals, the consultation will consider whether electric vehicles’ batteries should be tested to improve the safety and reliability of EVs, if additional measures should be introduced to tackle excessively loud engines, and how the DVSA can continue to crack down against MOT and mileage fraud. Any changes to the MOT will be supported by an information campaign led by the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to inform drivers of the updates to MOTs and remind them of their responsibility to keep vehicles roadworthy.
To ensure MOTs remain fit for the future, the consultation launched today is seeking views on proposals to change the date at which the first MOT for new light vehicles is required from 3 to 4 years.
We believe this decision is dangerous to road users and, as a result, Autodata is supporting a campaign launched by automotive trade bodies. The Government has set out its reasons in its latest consultation document, however, the new MOT consultation period ends on 1st March 2023, so it is important we gather signatures quickly. In 2021, 1,759 casualties were caused by vehicle defects. With more than 40 million vehicles on the UK’s roads, we want to ensure this number does not go in the wrong direction. Please help us to continue to keep our roads as safe as possible by keeping the MOT at 3-1-1.
Here are ways in which you can help:
At the time of writing, this petition has approximately 5,000 signatures. At 10,000 signatures the Government must respond to the petition. With 100,000 signatures this proposal will be debated in Parliament.
Send this article on to others
Feel free to send this article to customers, family and friends and ask them to sign the petition.
Write to your local MP:
After you sign the petition and confirmed your email address, you will find a link to contact your local MP. Please click here to download a letter template from the IGA to write to them. You can also find your local MP’s contact details by clicking here.
Secondly, ask your customers to complete this short survey so they can provide specific feedback that is likely to carry significant weight with the Government.
Finally, you can respond directly to the DfT’s consultation by completing their online survey.
