Do not extend the period before a vehicle’s first MOT to 4 years
- Parliament:
- 2019–24
- Signatures:
- 11,710
- Responded:
- 16 May 2023
- Department:
- Department for Transport
The petition
The Government has proposed extending the period before a vehicle has to have its first MOT from 3 years to 4. We believe this will be dangerous, expensive, damaging and unnecessary. 1,759 casualties were caused by vehicle defects in 2021. Keep our roads safe by keeping the MOT at 3-1-1.
The Government has considered extending the period before a new vehicle needs its first MOT several times in recent years, and abandoned plans every time after common-sense arguments from industry bodies and consumers alike. We believe any reduction to the MOT frequency will be:
Dangerous: Increased casualties and deaths caused by vehicle defects Expensive: Increased vehicle repair, maintenance & insurance costs Damaging: Increased pollution & congestion levels Unnecessary: There is little evidence to suggest motorists want to change MOT frequency
The government's response
The Government consultation on MOT reform closed on 22nd March 2023. We are currently analysing the results and will release a decision in the near future.
The current MOT regime has been in place for a significant amount of time, and during that period, new types of vehicles such as hybrids and electrics have become more prevalent on our roads, and new road safety standards and vehicle safety technologies such as advanced driver assistance technologies (ADAS) have been introduced and improved considerably. We believe that it is therefore appropriate to consider whether any changes are needed to ensure that MOT testing remains fit for purpose and proportionate.
The Government appreciates all those who have taken the time to provide a response to the consultation. We will consider all the responses and evidence submitted before a decision is made. Safety is, and always will be, our priority so we will not make any change before being confident about the impacts. With that in mind a decision will be announced in the near future once that analysis has been done.
The consultation also included a call for evidence about areas for potential longer-term MOT reform including electric vehicles and automated systems. We believe this offers the opportunity to improve vehicle safety and ensure that the MOT test benefits road users into the future.
Department for Transport