Mot

[sir.prize]

Is this a good idea - what do you think?

The government will extend the deadline for the first MOT of new cars and motorcycles from 3 years to 4 years.

[EDDIE51]

Good idea, cars are much more reliable now than when the MOT was introduced.

[Zacs-Master]

Good idea. The build quality of all components is far far higher now than when the '3 year from new test was introduced' in 1967.

[Canary42]

It was 10 years when it first came in.

[RATTER15]

Good idea, our car is now 3 years old, we have just had new brake discs but they worked perfectly and passed the MOT without anything doing.

[SlackAlice]

Bad move in my opinion.

It's fine if the motorist has annual services and pays attention to the weekly checks.

It's let down by the few motorists who do absolutely nothing as far as regards maintenance or weekly checks. I know a couple of people who bought brand new cars and still don't know how to open the bonnet or check tyre pressures.

[bhg481]

By the time my car was 4 years old it had covered 80,000 miles. It could have had bald tyres, knackered exhaust and only half its bulbs working. Perhaps the criteria should be (say) 20,000 miles OR 4 years, whichever comes sooner.

[gingejbee]

Nearly 20% of three-year old cars are fail their (first) MOT.....

[EDDIE51]

A 4 year old car should have had its free services for at least the first 3 years otherwise the warranty would be void. So a 4 year old car is not going to be unserviced as for example a 15 year old car often is.

[ukbod2015]

New cars are, on the whole, very reliable these days if you do the basic preventive maintenance ie fluids tyre pressures etc I can see the extra year being an issue.

[bhg481]

A car might have been serviced for 3 years Eddie, but the tyres can go bald etc in the fourth year. Gingejbee's statistic says it all.

[Hymie]

I heard that that the government were going to do this a few years ago – it’s a long time coming. This change will bring us in line with most of Europe in terms of vehicle testing.

But MOT test garages are going to have to increase their fees as a result of losing over 50% of tests – and fail a greater % of cars to get the MOT failure repairs which they rely on.

[Zacs-Master]

Bhg, Gingebee's statistics could just indicate how many gullible motorists there are out there and how many rip-off garages there are.

[bhg481]

They could, Zacs, but they could also reflect how many people don't bother with simple checks like bulbs, washer fluid, tyre tread etc.

[Hymie]

Although not mentioned in the OP, the change will make MOTs biannual rather than yearly.

[Baldric]

Hymie @1226,
Can't find any confirmation for Biannual testing anywhere, do you have a link please?

[ToraToraTora]

god idea. The road worthy laws still apply regardless of MOT.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Its a good idea from the governments view...they stand to make more money from motorist fines than from the mot scheme.

[TWR]

I have taken a lot of cars for the 3rd year MOT, not one has failed, given a Advice note, if it goes on to start the test at 4th year I agree, it's up to the owner to check if the car want a tyre or two, if he / she can not do it, ask your MOT testing Station, " Can I add, not K.F."

[Hymie]

Looks like I was wrong about the 2 years thing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16831793

[ToraToraTora]

how will there be more fines bright spark?