The UK government has held a consultation the annual MoT test for vehicles over 3 years old and concluded that it should remain an annual check. In the Republic of Ireland the test is every two years for cars 4 years old or more and the current proposals in NI are to switch to a biennial test regime.
The UK government will have to make an exemption for NI in the future, after the Windsor Framework effectively gave the EU power to set its own rules across Northern Ireland on pet travel, food imports, goods tariff exemptions and lots more. Any dual regulation regime on vehicle MoTs would be impossible to administer, so expect a two year MoT in NI to become law by 2026-ish.
Back in mainland UK, the MoT has evolved somewhat in the last decade or so, with the big change being the reclassification of defects into Major vs Minor. The old perforated certificates have long since been replaced by a digital database which is an accessible public record. That in itself helps people check the Advisory/Fail history of a used vehicle before buying and insuring it. Much of the forgery business which used to affect the validity of the old MoT certificates has been sidestepped by this new digital system.
THE FUTURE
Manufacturer recalls are already being added to the UK MoT system, so if a driver hasn’t had the recall work done, then that shows up. Good move.
But that online digital MoT database needs to be expanded to cover hybrids and EVs in more detail, so that the efficiency of the battery pack can be checked by buyers. Evidence of vehicle fires or electrical problems need more scrutiny and public listing too. Modern cars rely on ADAS safety systems and these also need to be included in the annual MoT, with notes regarding sensor malfunctions or optional ADAS features not applicable on particular models. It’s a big task, but it needs to be done accurately, as insurers can then understand how to price risks on base models vs full spec ADAS cars.
The UK Govt says they will be publishing proposals on improving the MoT in the future, although most of the mood music seems to be still focus on diesel tailpipe emissions and finding ways to get the poor – who tend to drive older petrol and diesel cars – off the roads.
It’s laughable that window tints are not included in the MoT at present either. A simple light meter test with a device costing £20 could check the percentages being transmitted through side windows or rear privacy glass. Get on with it.
INDUSTRY REACTION & COMMENT:
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said:
“It’s great news the madcap idea (oh really, why is it every two years in Ireland, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy etc? – Ed) of changing the MOT from every year to every two has finally been consigned to the bin. This would have seriously compromised road safety and ended up costing drivers more money rather than less as it was supposed to do, due to dangerous issues going undetected and getting progressively worse. This is why the idea was so widely unpopular with the motoring public in our research.
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