The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has responded to the Department for Transport’s (DfT) consultation proposing changes to the MOT frequency and other MOT enhancements.
Stuart James, IGA chief executive said: “As the voice of the independent garage sector, we are asking the government to very carefully consider any changes to the MOT introduction year.
”Based on the research and member feedback compiled when writing our consultation response, it is clear that any changes made will impact road safety far more than the government anticipates.
“Not only would extending the period of a vehicle’s first MOT be detrimental to road safety, it is our belief that it will cost consumers more money long-term. This includes increased repair costs due to defects taking longer to be picked up, all costs associated with accidents, rising insurance premiums, and additional MOT and repair costs for second owners of cars between three and four years old.
“It is important that the MOT test is updated to incorporate new vehicle types and technologies to ensure that vehicles’ structures, components and systems operate to a set minimum standard. However, road safety must also be taken into account here, so the period of time a vehicle can be used before its first MOT should remain unchanged while any changes to the scheme are rolled out, tested and analysed.
“There is still time to respond to the consultation, so we strongly encourage garages to share their views on the future of the MOT system before 11:45pm on Wednesday 22 March, as well as signing and sharing the automotive trade bodies’ petition to stop the DfT’s dangerous 4-1-1 MOT proposal.”
At the time of writing, the petition is around 1300 short of the 10,000 signatures required to force the government into a response.
Omer Hassan
ridicules no regards to road safety
GARY PROFFITT
with the state of the roads in britain the mot test should be every 6 months, crazy to change it to every 2 years idiotic.
graham+cox
please everybody fill in the form on the goverment website
we are facing a situation were a lot of us will be out of buisness
we run 2 mot bays and have traded for 35 years if this goes ahead we will have to close
Michael Grimbley
Another idiotic idea by an MP who only thinks of himself just like the smart motorways more deaths on our roads, how on earth will 4-1-1 save money more damage to vehicles through leaving repairs longer.