The Department for Transport has announced the conclusion of the MOT test consultation, stating that the existing system will remain in place. The government received over 4,400 responses to the consultation, which proposed extending the time before a car's first MOT test from three years to four.
As a result, roads minister Guy Opperman has confirmed that the date for the first MOT test will remain at three years from registration, and then annually thereafter. The decision has been supported by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and the RAC, who have welcomed the announcement.
This announcement from the government comes after a year-long consultation on updating the MOT test. The consultation sought feedback on proposals that included extending the time before a car's first MOT test from three years to four. The government also explored modernizing the MOT test for electric and automated vehicles. The proposed extension was met with concerns from industry experts about its impact on road safety. The government has decided against the extension and has opted to retain the existing system.
Maintaining the existing system has been supported by industry professionals such as Simon Williams, RAC head of policy. He has expressed relief that the proposal to change the MOT frequency was abandoned, as it could compromise road safety. The RAC believes that extending the first MOT test for another year could cause an increase in the number of unsafe vehicles being driven on the road. They suggest that more time should have been dedicated to enhancing the current MOT test to improve vehicle safety.
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The government insisted it is still committed to updating the MOT test, and said it will investigate how to better monitor diesel vehicle emissions and explore modernising the test for electric and automated vehicles.
The decision to retain the existing system for the first MOT test has been met with widely positive reception. It keeps roads safe, supports the car industry, and maintains the flow of revenue for MOT service providers.