Forum

The government is considering changing the frequency of MOT tests from yearly to every other year.

There are changes for new vehicles too. Currently, new vehicles need to get an MOT after 3 years. But in the future, new vehicles might not need an MOT for 4 years.

The MOT changes apply to cars, motorbikes and vans.

The government says that the changes to MOTs reflect the improvements to vehicle safety, for example automatic lane keeping systems (ALKs).

This might cause some safety concerns for motorists. But government analysis revealed that new vehicles usually pass their MOT in the first 3 years. And that there are low numbers of casualties in collisions in the UK due to vehicle defects.

It’s standard practice to test new vehicles at 4 years in countries like:

Belgium

Denmark

France

Italy

Spain

Portugal

Most drivers will likely be happy that they could save money with less frequent MOTs. The average MOT costs £40, so the new changes could save motorists across the UK £100 million a year.

But it’s important to make sure you’re still getting regular services and not ignoring problems with your vehicle. This should also mean you have less problems when you do get an MOT.