BRIEFING PAPER - MOT ANNOUNCMENT 1ST FEBRUARY 2012

BACKGROUND

The government has announced that it intends no longer to open a formal consultation to review it's current MOT testing regime. They had been intending to open consultation to look at how the MOT procedure could be improved, as well to alleviate the burden on the motorist in terms of cost. There was a possiblility that the current MOT testing would be amended from its current 3-1-1 (Vehicles1st MOT once the vehicle is 3 years old and then every year afterwards) to 4-2-2 (1st MOT after 4 years and then every 2 years).

SUMMARY

On the 1st February a statement was issued outlining the governments intentions on the future of MOT testing.

Key points

The statement focuses on the quality and value for money elements of MOT tests and more general service and repair of vehicles. Over 35 million MOT tests are carried out in the UK annually at some 21,000 authorised premises, with an annual cost in the region of £1.5 billion.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) information was published for the first time, showing that despite large parts of the MOT test being subjective, 88% of testers were applying correct and consistant standards.

Government will develop with the newly proposed Motorists Forum sub-group a robust means by which it and industry can measure consumer confidence over time across all garage services.