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MOT frequency drop could save motorists money13 April 2011by Janice May With no changes to the legislation governing the MOT test since 1967, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond is considering changes that would reduce costs for motorists, according to a report from Endsleigh Insurance. The financial burden on drivers would be reduced by delaying the MOT until the car is four years old instead of the current three years old, with the next MOT not occuring until the car is six years old. The proposal takes account of improvements in car design and technology that lead to very few cars failing their first MOT when they are just three years old. However, research on the potential effects of the delayed MOT suggests that it could lead to two more road deaths per year. The Department for Transport is currently consulting on their proposals with stakeholders including motoring organisations and MOT test centres. The latter group clearly have a vested interest in making the case for continuing the current test arrangements but as motorists are paying increasingly more to run their cars anything that will reduce that cost, assuming that it would be safe to do so, could be a welcome development. However, a recent opinion survey found that 62% were against reducing the MOT frequency on the basis that it would lead to a larger number of dangerous vehicles on our roads; so clearly the public perception is that the MOT usefully impacts on the numbers of roadworthy cars on our roads and reducing its frequency would reduce their number. It's not possible to argue otherwise, of course, but what's at stake is the degree and scale of the problem if MOT testing were to be reduced. That the public do not appear to be in support of reducing the MOT frequency and so-doing, inevitably, would lead to more accidents and road deaths even if that amount is small, presents a good case for maintenance of the status quo. The Government's aim to reduce costs for motorists was their principle intention but clearly safety concens are seen as more important to the public while it is also possible that if regular MOT inspections are not conducted that, at least in some cases, minor mechanical problems could escalate, so proving more costly to make good owing to their delayed detection. That said, the Government does have a valid point when it asserts that modern car construction renders vehicles much more reliable and less likely to fail the first MOT test. perhaps a compromise would be to move the first test back to year four but to retain annual testing thereafter. Given that the public does not seem to have embraced this idea, perhaps it is one that will be shelved without any significant degree of public consultation. We will need to wait to see. The car insurance resources listed below should also assist motorists to reduce their costs, although a balance needs to be found between low cost and an acceptable level of cover. This means that a careful check of the policy features is wise. |
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