With a third of all vehicles failing their annual MOT, it’s easy to see why proposals to change the rules are proving controversial. Buckingham & Stanley’s MD, Andrew Ballard, talked to Lucy Callington about the future of the annual MOT test and the changing face of motoring.
Since the MOT test was first devised back in 1960, the landscape of driving has changed dramatically but the test itself has not. That’s why the Government has launched a consultation seeking views on the future of driving generally, and the annual safety test in particular.
Headline proposals from the consultation include changing the requirement for the first MOT for new vehicles from three to four years, and every two years after that.
Buckingham and Stanley has been offering MOTs at its Histon site for over 50 years. I asked Managing Director Andrew Ballard how important to road safety and the longevity of a vehicle MOTs really are. “The test is fundamental to the safety of vehicles and to road safety in general” he said. “We find that nearly a third of cars fail their MOT with us, which mirrors the picture nationally.
“The most common faults are lighting, tyres, brakes and suspension components – all vital safety concerns. While some people regularly maintain their vehicles to a safe standard, others rely on the MOT test to flag up any faults.”
Does Andrew agree with the Department of Transport’s statement that the change from three to four years for the first MOT – standard practice across many European countries already – won’t impact road safety? “Many motoring organisations are strongly opposed to this and it’s easy to see why” he said. “10% of cars fail the first MOT at three years so it seems logical that the number of failures would increase in an extra year without testing.
“At the moment, when potholes are so prevalent, damage to tyres and suspension components can easily go unnoticed by the driver. The MOT test can, and often does, highlight these issues before a failure occurs.”
Counting the cost of checks
Despite the Government’s statement suggesting that the move to four years before first testing would save motorists around £100 million a year in MOT fees, critics of the proposed change argue that it could lead to increased vehicle repair, maintenance and insurance costs.
So does Andrew think the figures really stack up?
“It’s clear that there would be a reduction in the number of MOT tests carried out, but the industry is already going through a shortage of testers, so this may perhaps mitigate that situation.
“What could change is the number of stations giving discounts for MOTs. Fewer stations and testers will likely see the average cost of the MOT rise. The cost of our MOT at £54.85 has not changed for over ten years, despite labour costs and overheads rising dramatically.”
Evolving with Electric
Among the proposals, the consultation will consider whether electric vehicles’ (EV) batteries should be tested to improve their safety and reliability. I asked whether Andrew feels the current MOT system for EVs is fit for purpose.
“In the future, the complexity of vehicles will mean a change of testing standards, but this has always happened organically over the years anyway. Imagine the vehicles that were tested in 1960 when the MOT was first introduced. They are certainly very different from the cars and motorbikes we own now. Over the next few years, the focus is likely to change to testing the safety systems on EVs, such as blind spot and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).”
Putting Safety First
The Government’s consultation is a chance for all parties concerned with road safety to have their say, and Andrew is pleased that this will open up conversations between drivers, garages, motoring organisations and the Government.
“Due to continued development and testing we have some of the safest roads in the world and I don’t think any steps to jeopardise that would be allowed to happen.”
It’s a view echoed by Edmund King, president of the AA, who states: “The MOT plays a vital role in ensuring that vehicles on our roads are safe and well maintained. We strongly discourage the Government from extending a car’s first MOT to the fourth anniversary due to road safety concerns.”
Whatever the future holds for MOTs, the Government is quick to remind the public on its consultation documents that keeping their two- and four-wheelers safe and legal is ultimately the responsibility of road users.
The deadline for the public to have their say on proposals is 11:45pm on 22 March 2023. Visit the consultation web page to have your say on the future of MOTs.
Visit Buckingham and Stanley for details of MOT testing and servicing for all makes of vehicle, or call 01223 554069