IAM welcomes decision on MOTs but not all questions answered

The IAM welcomes the Department for Transport ‘s decision and put an end to several years of uncertainty by keeping an annual MoT test, rather than moving to a two-year interval.

“The UK posts one of the highest MOT failure rates in Europe. The government may have made the right decision on safety grounds but it has yet to prove that consumers are getting value for money. That can only be done by consistent high quality implementation of the MOT scheme and transparent reporting of future trends so that we have the full picture”. said Neil Greig, IAM Trust Director.

IAM research acquired in 2008 through the Freedom of Information Act revealed that 21.6 per cent of three-year old cars fail their first MoT test – a higher failure rate than in some European countries that do first roadworthiness tests after four years (the European minimum). The research led the IAM to ask the following questions, many of which are yet to be answered:

Why are first-test pass rates in some European countries better at four years than UK pas rates after three years?

Does the three-year UK MoT test unnecessarily ‘gold plate’ the European minimum requirement for roadworthiness – at a cost to UK motorists of £465 million?

Would the European minimum roadworthiness test be enough to guarantee safety?

Do the additional checks in UK testing criteria relate only to safety?

Are accidents due to vehicle failure greater in countries that wait four years for a first compulsory roadworthiness test?

In the UK, only garages carry out tests test and supply the parts and labour needed to rectify faults. In some European countries, testing and rectifying procedures are kept separate - should we consider the (re)introduction of independent testing centres?

The IAM also has unanswered questions for garages and manufacturers:

Why are so many UK cars failing the first MoT test after just three years when three-year warranties and service agreements are common? Is it because:

garages do the MoT test before the three-year warranty service instead of after it – if so, why?

manufacturers’ service schedules do not cover all the points needed to pass a MoT test – if so, why not?

A 2007 IAM Trust survey showed that motorists viewed the MoT test as an essential road safety measure but that they suspected that failures were influenced by a garage’s wish to carry out unnecessary work.