A petition against government plans to extend the date of the first MOT on cars, motorbikes and vans has launched, backed by major industry bodies.

Industry stakeholders say delaying the first MOT would increase the number of dangerous vehicles on UK roads, without reducing the cost of motoring

It follows last week’s opening of a new consultation recommending major changes to the annual MOT by the Government.

Published jointly by the Department for Transport (DfT) and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the consultation seeks views on changing the date of the first MOT from three years to four years and on altering the frequency of the test to make it “fit for the future” in line with the advent of new powertrains and safety technology.

The plans on delaying the first MOT have already come under fire by many in the automotive sector and the new petition says any move to four years would be “dangerous, expensive, damaging and unnecessary”.

It states: “The Government has considered extending the period before a new vehicle needs its first MOT several times in recent years and abandoned plans every time after common-sense arguments from industry bodies and consumers alike. We believe any reduction to the MOT frequency will be:

• Dangerous: Increased casualties and deaths caused by vehicle defects
• Expensive: Increased vehicle repair, maintenance & insurance costs
• Damaging: Increased pollution & congestion levels
• Unnecessary: There is little evidence to suggest motorists want to change MOT frequency

“1,759 casualties were caused by vehicle defects in 2021. Keep our roads safe by keeping the MOT at 3-1-1.”

Industry bodies backing the petition include the Independent Garage Association (IGA), the Garage Equipment Association (GEA), the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), the Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) and the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA).

The Government’s MOT proposals have already been criticised by the AA and the RAC, which voiced safety concerns.

Kwik Fit has also waded into the debate. Eric Smith, MOT scheme manager, welcomed the work to explore improving the scope of the test but said there was a lack of “good” evidence to indicate that delaying a car’s first test beyond three years was a risk worth taking.

“In fact, the Government’s own forecasts show that delaying tests could lead to an increase in road casualties as well as a risk of more cars running with illegal emission levels.

“The reality is that the annual MOT fee is a very small proportion of a driver’s annual expenditure and the test supports drivers with a timely and regular check on important safety components – not least the condition of tyres. Of the vehicle defects listed as contributory factors to accidents, the government data show that tyres are most common, and tyre condition is unrelated to vehicle age. Our experience shows that the annual check remains vital in not only improving the safety of our customers but also extending the life of their vehicles and reducing drivers’ overall maintenance costs.”

BookMyGarage has also stated that delaying the requirement for a vehicle’s first MOT would increase the number of dangerous vehicles on UK roads, and fail to reduce the cost of motoring.

Karen Rotberg, co-founder of BookMyGarage.com, said: “The fact the Government is pitching these proposed changes as a way to save motorists money is farcical. On average, drivers pay £35.52 for an MOT test booked through our website – that’s less than the cost of half a tank of petrol in a typical family car. The reality is that most motorists prioritise safety over costs and the price of an MOT is only a tiny part of the overall bill that drivers face.”

The petition against the MOT changes is online here. The Government will respond if it reaches 10,000 signatures and will consider it for debate in Parliament once it gets to 100,000 signatures.

The petition runs until 23 July 2023, however the consultation period for the Government’s proposals to change the MOT frequency ends on 1 March 2023.