MoT Every Two Years Under Consideration in Britain

Drivers will have to put their cars through MoT tests once every two years instead of annually under plans being considered by the UK Government. In addition, the check will only be required for new vehicles after four years instead of three, the current rule.

As a result, a brand-new car will only undergo four test in the first ten years instead of eight, saving UK motorist thousands of pounds in the process. The change is one of the biggest undertaken in recent years and is part of a set of alterations which have been recommended to the transport regulation system.

The current MoT ruling dates back to the 1960s so ministers have to recognize that car design and safety technology has developed a long way since then. A regular MoT test costs just over £50 but it can easily increase to £200 or more with tyre replacement and repairs for wear and tear, such as brake discs. The potholes and road irregularities left by the the recent winter cold can also increase this through damage caused to the suspension systems.

There is also a bit of a downside to the change, as they could translate to Britain’s 19,000 garages authorized to carry out MoT losing business, while some analysts have also suggested they could lead to 30 extra road deaths per year.

“Car technology has come a long way since the 1960s, that’s why we think its right to look again to check whether we still have the right balance of MOT testing for modern vehicles. We want to work with the industry and motorists to get the decision absolutely right,” said Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary.