Proposals For Mot Testing Every Two Years

[kfk]

Motorists will only have to MOT their cars every two years under Government plans to revamp the vehicle health-check.

 

The proposals also mean the first MOT will only happen after four years - not three - as at present.

 

Ministers believe that modern technology means cars don't need to be certified every year - a process that currently costs motorists £50

 

But consumer watchdogs and industry chiefs warn the changes will put millions of lives at risk from unroadworthy vehicles by lengthening the time between check-ups.

 

Critics point out that with nearly 30 per cent of cars failing the current annual checks, more than half the cars on the road could be unfit to drive with tests every two years.

 

At present, all vehicles over three years old must have an MOT test every year.

 

But under the new Government proposals, motorists will only have to have their cars checked every other year.

 

The new proposals also mean that new cars will not have their first test until they are four rather than three years old.

 

Steve Fowler, editor of What Car? magazine which is opposed to the move, said it would not necessarily save money for car owners.

 

He said: "The move to a two-yearly test is misleading for consumers who may think they are saving money, but MOT test prices will rise as garages close due to lack of business and competition declines.

 

"Although modern cars are more reliable, that shouldn't be confused with safety. This proposal has no safety or financial benefits for any road user."

 

What Car? said that according to Government statistics, 3 per cent of all fatal accidents are caused by vehicle defects.

 

Currently 29% of UK cars already fail the annual MOT test.

 

Of those failures, 14.9 per cent relate to defective lights, 11 per cent steering faults, 10% brakes and 8% on tyres.

 

The next biggest failure rate is down to emission and visibility problems.

 

Mr Fowler said: "We cannot allow our roads to become any more dangerous. Well-maintained, safe cars are an absolute priority for all road users and pedestrians alike."

 

Ray Holloway, of the Retail Motor Industry Federation, said:"When something as daft as this comes along it is time to take some serious action.

 

"If 30 per cent of all vehicles currently undergoing an annual MOT test fail, then testing every other year will mean potentially half the vehicles on our roads at any one time will not be roadworthy."

 

Mr Holloway has taken a delegation to Downing Street to privately raise fears with the Prime Minister's special adviser.

 

He said the current MOT regime had helped the UK establish its position as one of the top three countries in Europe for road safety:'That now risks being lost - and lives put at risk.'

 

A petition is also being launched to block the proposals.

 

A transport department spokesman confirmed: 'We will be putting the proposals out to consultation. No final decision has been made.'

 

 

 

Retail Motor Industry Federation

 

Motor Trader

[Guest anisboy]

This sounds about as silly as an EU idea that all HGVs should have 8 gears as opposed to the 6 they have now.

 

My MOT for the Pic cost £33.50 after discount, and I certainly don't object to having one every year.

[Dan Gleebitz]

I think MoTs should be carried out by Government MoT stations (like Northern Ireland) and not linked in any way to repair workshops. This might even out test results and ensure that garages are not failing cars, just so they can repair them and make ££££££££

 

As for periodicity, I feel a test after one year then every two years until 5 years then annual. I would like to ensure the cars are built properly in the first place and then maintained safely as the get more mature. I certainly don't support a first test at yr 4.

 

I would like adding to the test a check of visibility to ensure windows are not over tinted or clogged with stickers or decorations.

 

I also believe that caravans should also be tested annually.

[Teacherpete2]

I too think this is a poor idea. As KFK's post states, there would be even more unroadworthy cars out there.

Maybe they should go down this route! :o ...

 

Japanese MOT

 

...key bit from 'Secondhand market'

[stimulator]

This isn't anything new it's just common in the EU. The test in Spain I recall starts at 4 years old and is bi annual until the car is 10 years old then it goes to yearly. All testing is performed at IVA stations.

 

There are exceptions such as if you have a tow bar fitted the car is tested on that day and annually there after along with the Trailer; so if your tow bar is put on before delivery NEW it gets tested.

 

A tested car in Spain has a windscreen sticker that shows the date of re-test on it.

[whatsinaname]

YESmy daughter says its only every two years in spain, i think its just a money making racket, failing on emissions is not a safety related item my daughter car kept failing on silly things, i checked it over with my brother ,then i took it to same mot station and it passed ,without it being touched ,we no longer use that garage

[JoeBlunt]

If it does happen it will probably be for all cars registered after a certain date so most if not all of the current cars will continue as they are now. The 2yr test (if introduced) will probably rise to £80.00.

 

No MOT nowadays is non endorsable and dealt with by a fixed penalty so there's no scary deterrent. I think this is being introduced because when the MOT system went electronic it slowed garages down, before an MOT was carried out at the Examiners speed now all MOT Examiners must work to the speed of the computer so many are doing less per day.

 

The electronic MOT is identifying many problems too, before if an MOT Examiner made a mistake recording a VIN on an MOT Certificate it would really go unnoticed unless VOSA physically checked the Pad (duplicate) against the vehicle records. Now the details recorded on the MOT are crossed checked against the DVLA vehicle records so immediately bells ring.

 

Its not uncommon for a dealer to sell 2 cars (new) on the same day and register them but then fit the wrong plates to each vehicle, its only on the 1st MOT does this problem come to light, because both will be taxed every year and surprisingly new car buyers rarely check their V5c Reg Doc against their VIN.

I cannot see it being introduced but if it is it wont be for sometime and will only affect new vehicles so it would I reckon fade in over a number of years.

 

Anyone that dont think its worth £50 a year for peace of mind for an MOT (less than a £1 a week) an assurance that their family are driving in a safe vehicle shouldn't be on the road.

[RHP]

Anyone that dont think its worth £50 a year for peace of mind for an MOT (less than a £1 a week) an assurance that their family are driving in a safe vehicle shouldn't be on the road.

Only "safe" on the day the vehicle was tested. Too many people use the annual test as a cheapskate and uninformed substitute for regular servicing - how many times do you hear "it got through the MOT, it must be OK"

 

Keep annual tests - at least the worst problems will show!

[stimulator]

But this will be seen as an infringement of human rights etc. In the EU other member states run their MOT on the basis that is proposed. We are members of the EU and all that that entails. As you can see from the news this week the UK WILL BE spending £62M on motor bike test centres as on test has to be done under EU law at 50KPH which is above 30MPH and thus illegal on UK roads. So if the EU can impose that then they will impose the MOT. This countries weak kneed socialist governement cowtows to all the crap things that come acrosss the channel so they will with this on.

[RHP]

Stimulator - Is that a vote for UKIP or perhaps even further to the right :torch: :woot:

[motorman116]

I think that the M.o.t's should stay the same (every year), but I also think that they should put an age limit on the time a car should be on the road, as when they get older the vehicles become more unreliable, maybe say 15 years ?? and after that time they are not allowed on the road anymore.

[Dan Gleebitz]

I think that the M.o.t's should stay the same (every year), but I also think that they should put an age limit on the time a car should be on the road, as when they get older the vehicles become more unreliable, maybe say 15 years ?? and after that time they are not allowed on the road anymore.

 

 

Utter Bolleux ..... older the car, the more unreliable .. what cr4p :angry: :angry: ... from some of the posts on here proves that to be wrong. Having studied reliability for equipment a lot more complex than a Picasso, reliability depends on the nature of the system and whether it's subject to random, aging or sequential failures.

 

Due to the complexities of a modern car, most of the early life failures will be electronic and most of those in later life will be due to mechanical wear out.

 

A car from the 1960's will run reliably for many years providing it is maintained well. Most of these cars rusted to bits before wearing out. A well maintained 1960's car due to it's low parts count and simple over engineered design will be intrinsically be more reliable than a highly complex, highly stressed modern counterpart.

 

So why do modern cars cover such high mileage before scrapping ... modern materials (oils / steels), better fuels, more comfortable and better roads.

[Guest anisboy]

I agree with you there Dan.

 

I share a 1980 Series 3 Landrover with my dad, apart from the usual Landrover issues it is just as reliable as a modern car. My Dad also drives a 1984 110, just as reliable as the new Defender.

 

My Discovery is 10 years old, touch wood no major problems so far.

 

My parents Vitara is 13 years old, apart from the ORIGINAL battery dying due to age, no problems.

 

They used to have 1990 VW Passat, just sold it for £280, has only failed one MOT due to exhaust corrosion and was quite frankly one of the best cars they have ever owned.

 

Before the Passat they had an VW Variant, very reliable, eventually sold it to collector. They also had an Austin Princess 2.2 HLS Auto, only reason they got rid of it was Dad decided to drive it into a Ford Granada.

 

My point is here that almost all of the vehicles my parents have owned are on average 7 years old or older. Apart from the usual issues of age related items like the battery all of the vehicles have been reliable. As Dan says so long as they are well maintained there is no reason why an older vehicle shouldn't be just as reliable and good as a new car.

[kfk]

The first MOT will ussually get the customer to utter those immortal words......it should pass, you look after it! They forget of course that they have driven 10,000 miles since last year, when we reported the rear tyres would require attention before the next service.

 

 

 

So it comes a suprise to the customer when he's informed of the tyres being below the legal limit, however, upon being informed of the washer bottle being empty and one brake light not working will admit to meaning to get them done but had forgotten about them!

 

 

 

In my experience the younger generation have little interest in their vehicles other than to drive them, the older generation gave up when the carburettor dissappeared. When was the last time you saw someone checking there oil, and was that because a light came on on the dash?

 

 

 

I appreciate that modern technology has taken away the need for many to tinker with their spark plugs and oil the door locks at weekends, but it was carrying out these most basic of chores that made drivers vigilant to there vehicles needs.

 

 

 

I vote they should stay as they are.

[Dan Gleebitz]

I vote they should stay as they are.

 

 

I'll drink to that .. :cheers:

 

 

Now.. should drivers undergo an MoT to check their eyesight .... I don't think it's an age thing but age must come into it. Many young people can pass the "read the number plate" but is that enough? No compulsory checks between test and 70 yrs is that enough? How many drive but won't wear their spectacles?

[JoeBlunt]

So it comes a suprise to the customer when he's informed of the tyres being below the legal limit, however, upon being informed of the washer bottle being empty and one brake light not working will admit to meaning to get them done but had forgotten about them!

A Bit like my customers really, today - 21yr old driving on tyres that wouldn't hold the road in the dry never mind wet, she only got her licence 3 months ago and today she lost it......... Sad really, that she has no regard for anyones safety including her own!

She wouldn't MOT her car no matter how far the test was spaced apart.

 

Its the innocent people I feel sorry for, those who struggle to buy their Insurance, Tax MOT who regualy clean and service their car only to be in a collision with this uninsured ********!

[kfk]

Maybe any car that fails its MOT on a bulb failure should put the driver first in the queue for a eye test.

 

 

 

But seriously, the eye test is an important issue.....every two years.

[Lancelot]

A Bit like my customers really, today - 21yr old driving on tyres that wouldn't hold the road in the dry never mind wet,

 

I wouldn't condone driving on bald tyres but is what you say true?

 

Surely a bald tyre puts more tread on the road. It only has a tread to enable water to be dispersed on a wet road to prevent aquaplaning. Grip on a dry road is not determined by the amount of tread. I'll stand being corrected, but that's how I understand it.

[kfk]

Looking at that tyre i would say it had gone beyond bald and was tearing through to the cords on the inner edge.

[Dan Gleebitz]

It's the canvas that worries me ....

 

Slick tyres are designed to be slicks and have a good layer of rubber on the carcase .. a treaded tyre, less the tread will be very thin and prone to punctures.

 

My bike tyres don't have many grooves but they sure grip well in wet & dry because of the rubber compound is designed for grip and not high mileage .. hoping to get 6,000 miles out the rear . and not looking like it'll happen :blush: .. still at £110 for a rear :o

[Jubilado]

Having an idle moment (rare :P ) I will add twopennorth to this old topic; mainly because of Stim's input and some enquiries that I made recently.

 

When I first encountered the MOT system, my car was older than I was and all my contemporaries were driving pre-war bangers. A six monthly MOT might have been justified. :(

 

Nearly fifty years later and in Spain, I do not have the impression that the four year 1st test and 2 year repeats are leading to a dangerous situation, perhaps because the car stock is all relatively young, in line with growing prosperity. Friends, of many nationalities, are using testable cars but have them serviced responsibly and regularly pass the checks first time.

 

I have taken two new cars to the state run ITV station to have tow bars checked (you now get a certificate that clears you until a car test is due Stim) and have been very impressed by the equipment. At one stage the whole car and the rolling road on which it sits, is jolted around like a fairground ride to test suspension and shock absorbers.

 

If only the drivers could be psychologically tested as thoroughly....................... :wacko:

 

Because I have come up to Lance's level of life experience, I do have to have a personal MOT every two years. It consists of an eye test and a two-handed computer game and is conducted by a doctor licensed for the purpose. Maybe that will come to UK too :det:

[Lancelot]

Because I have come up to Lance's level of life experience, I do have to have a personal MOT every two years. It consists of an eye test and a two-handed computer game and is conducted by a doctor licensed for the purpose. Maybe that will come to UK too :det:

 

Changing the subject somewhat I failed miserably at a Follies show in Paris this last week. I was "dragged" onto the stage by a lovely young, almost naked, woman.

 

After much cahorting around she told me to take off her bra. My, did I fumble? !!

 

My wife shouted from the audience "Take it off yourself love. It will be quicker"

 

Well, it has been over 55 years since I was in the Odeon cinema on the back row.

[stimulator]

What were you doing with her bra on anyway? :D

[Lancelot]

What were you doing with her bra on anyway? :D

 

Good one Stim. I like it.

[Dr Bob]

What were you doing with her bra on anyway? :D

 

Must have needed somewhere to store the tinnies! :cheers: