Two year MOT will cost drivers more

The plan to reduce the regularity of MOT’s is expected to actually cost drivers more according to experts. It is expected that more costs will be associated with insuring and repairing a car that is maintained less often. It is also expected that there will be around 40,000 job losses in the car maintenance industry.

The new system is going to mean the cars don’t have to have an MOT test for four years after being purchased new, and after that they only have to have an MOT every other year. The changes are being considered by the government so the U.K.’s MOT testing system is similar to that of Europe.

A consortium of motoring groups, safety organisations, and retailers have come together to oppose the change. They have recently issued a report that shows the extra financial burden that is going to be placed on motorists.

The government have said that they expect people to save nearly £25 because of the change but this group estimates there will be extra costs to motorists in the range of around £80. This figure has been calculated by working out the additional costs of fuel usage, insurance premiums and additional repairs.

Furthermore, the group highlights the additional risks to peoples safety associated with having less well maintained vehicles on the road. They estimated the cost to the UK economy will be over £1.4 billion because of the additional serious injuries and deaths that will occur on the roads, as well as the revenues that will be lost through the expected job losses.

The report states, “The UK has some of the safest roads in the world and this is because of our rigorous testing regime. If we start lowering the standards then more people are going to be injured on the roads and this is going to cost the taxpayer a lot more in the long run.”