For good or bad (increased mot charge?) cars are becoming more reliable

so it is being proposed that the three year mot is extended to four years.

For good or bad (increased mot charge?) cars are becoming more reliable

so it is being proposed that the three year mot is extended to four years.

Yep, saw that on the news this morning.  I would think that's most likely that it would be the things like tyres that would fail the current 3 year test.  

Don't know if its a Europe wide thing but its been like that here a la frog for some time!

Given this article (http://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/mot-data-the-mot-files/the-mot-files-the-first-mot-bottom-10-cars/?image=9) suggests the "top 10" worst performing cars have a first MOT failure rate of 20-27%, I was surprised (concerned) to read the government are proposing to push back the first MOT to year 4 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38708925) :peek:

Edited 22 January, 20179 yr by pinkpanther

I recall a similar idea a year or so back. A local garage owner and mot inspector had mixed views. He thought the idea sound with one exception. French cars. These have the highest failure rate in his garage.

 

Colin

George Osborne MP announced the introduction of it in a budget that is the one that brings in the VED changes this April.

Hence why it went to consultation and if brought in in 2018 does that then mean vehicles First Registerd then would have the first MOT in 2022,

or instead of the first MOT due on a 3 year old in 2018 it gets it in 2019?

The amount of cars that fail their first test on low level stuff (tyres, bulbs, wipers) shows how drivers don't check their vehicles, so lengthening the time to first test is asking for trouble.

New vehicles are more likely to be used for business, so it's quite possible cars can be doing 100-200k before their first test.

Two threads merged....

Owners / Drivers might not check very often if ever between services or MOT's and rely on Main Dealer PDI's after Manufacturers Quality Control.

 

Many Light alignment failures at 3 years are from when the car was built and came into the UK or to the supplying dealer.

(3 years driving with pathetic dipped beams or even misaligned main beam before discovered by a MOT Examiner.)

 

Then Variable / flexible servicing means the vehicle had 1 Inspection service 1 year before the first MOT as it is.

Fixed servicing 2 or more services before punted off to Auction or the Main Dealers forecourt.

 

So the PDI needs to be more to the standard on a Mini MOT and do not send out cars with badly set lights for 3 or 4 years, 

over inflated tyres or any other issues that even Main Dealer Servicing misses.

 

*PDI's where 'Transport block's' are still in the suspension shows the sometimes lack of skill or attention before Brand New vehicles hit the UK roads'.

Edited 22 January, 20179 yr by Offski

 ^ ^ ^ ^ Been 4 years here in France for some time, UK catching up?

Regards old , battered cars here, that could be due to the normal MOT equiv is required every 2 years not as in the UK every year.

The instance of these cars circulating has reduced recently because of French Govt very attractive scrappage deals, much better than in the UK I believe.

One point re driving here, beware of small Postman Pat type cars, Ligier, Aixam etc as these cars can be driven without valid driving licences ie people with poor sight, driving banned for alcohol etc -I always try to give 'em a wide berth!!

Where can you get these 3 or 4 year MOT's from? I think it's an excellent idea.....................................Mine only lasts one year :D .

Buy or lease or steal a new vehicle and for 3 year nobody never need check it, maintain it or do a MOT on it,

maybe from 2018 that could be 4 years without ever a professional checking it's fitness to be on the public highway.

(unless a roadside check gets done.)

 

Own an old enough vehicle in the UK and you never need it MOT'd.

Edited 22 January, 20179 yr by Offski

ROI - 4yrs from new for first NCT. Then every 2 yrs until 10yrs old and annual from age11.

I agree with StevesTruck above. For company vehicles that cover more than average mileage you could have a four year old vehicle driving around with well over 200k on the clock. Usually if it's a company/lease vehicle it will be serviced and looked after, but the company I work for change their cars at 3 years old regardless of mileage. I had a Passat which at three years old had 146k on it. 

That means you could get a well maintained car with over 100k on the clock at well under 2 years old, then sold to someone privately who doesn't look after it and puts loads more mileage on it and it doesn't get it looked at until it's four years old with somewhere between 100-200k+ on it.

 

My preference would be similar to a warranty period for the MOT, something like either 4 years old or 100k (annually from then on), which ever comes first.

2 x ARB replacements, 1 x door leakage repair, 1 x console bush replacement,  2 x air-con sensor replacements, 1 x gear box re-conditioning, so far all within 62,000 miles for my Fab Mk 1.

 

4 - year MOT - An end of the "Sealed-for-life" BS ?

 

**** ! What are Skoda going to do ?

 

Nick

 

 

The UK Civil Servants or Politicians they advise think  that since your 1999-2007 Model Fabia Skoda improved the Build Quality 2007-2014 then again 2014 to now & that the cars can be left un-checked for 4 years.

'Simply Clever',  or Simply deluded. 

 

2 year lease vehicles might get a Service & Workshop Safety Check and then be a Skoda Approved car, 

or as now a MOT then punted out as some get.

Odd / mismatched tyres, pressures set wrongly etc.

 

Just imagine how Dealerships can improve profits not even having to have the vehicle MOT'd at 3 years just those 'Workshop Safety Checks', 

and 1 year later they can upsell on the Brake Discs they are giving advisories on now at 1 or 2 or 3 years old.

 

Or just try to sell or finance the unfortunate with that 4 year old money pit of a vehicle.

 

It is like all the Dodgy Dealers including Main Dealers birthdays have come together.

I wonder the input the 'Arnold Clark Group' gave in the Consultation....

Edited 22 January, 20179 yr by Offski

As far as the Government is concerned, now's the time to introduce it when sales are up i.e. main dealer's are not so dependent on servicing income.

 

Surely, going from 3 -4, with Fabia MOT pass rates at the mid 60s% (Per Honest John) is going to lose them (MD's) one year's worth of servicing and repair business on that 35% - significant when sales are low.

 

Can't see there are any savings in it for HMG, so why the move ?

 

However, pressure from the scandal hit manufacturers trying to shift liability to the right given that market pressures from far- east manufacturers are forcing extended terms to standard warranties, could be behind it  ?

 

 

Nick

Edited 22 January, 20179 yr by Clunkclick

George Osborne MP & his then boss are now off making more money doing more important speeches for their own incomes.

 

So as the UK is going towards leaving the EU sometime in the next 3 years or so it is time to do the stricter MOT's on vehicles registered in the UK on a permanent basis and also 

get the Law in order to be as strict on drivers and vehicles from Continental European Countries as Continental Countries can be on UK drivers infringing the law.

 

Then the UK Government maybe need to look at safety, introduce that Hi-viz jackets should be mandatory carried in the vehicles for the number of seats, Spare Bulb sets and the ability to change a bulb at a safe roadside position, safety triangle carried. 2 Breath Test devices carried  in the vehicle and enforce that.

All these items should be in a new vehicle at purchase and checked at the MOT.

George Osborne MP & his then boss are now off making more money doing more important speeches for their own incomes.

 

So as the UK is going towards leaving the EU sometime in the next 3 years or so it is time to do the stricter MOT's on vehicles registered in the UK on a permanent basis and also 

get the Law in order to be as strict on drivers and vehicles from Continental European Countries as Continental Countries can be on UK drivers infringing the law.

 

Then the UK Government maybe need to look at safety, introduce that Hi-viz jackets should be mandatory carried in the vehicles for the number of seats, Spare Bulb sets and the ability to change a bulb at a safe roadside position, safety triangle carried. 2 Breath Test devices carried  in the vehicle and enforce that.

All these items should be in a new vehicle at purchase and checked at the MOT.

The underlying problem is lack of enforcement - much cheaper to install Radar trap - oops, sorry Officer, I meant Safety Cameras, than provide visible patrols tasked with intelligent pro-active enforcement.    

 

George Osborne MP & his then boss are now off making more money doing more important speeches for their own incomes.

 

So as the UK is going towards leaving the EU sometime in the next 3 years or so it is time to do the stricter MOT's on vehicles registered in the UK on a permanent basis and also 

get the Law in order to be as strict on drivers and vehicles from Continental European Countries as Continental Countries can be on UK drivers infringing the law.

 

Then the UK Government maybe need to look at safety, introduce that Hi-viz jackets should be mandatory carried in the vehicles for the number of seats, Spare Bulb sets and the ability to change a bulb at a safe roadside position, safety triangle carried. 2 Breath Test devices carried  in the vehicle and enforce that.

All these items should be in a new vehicle at purchase and checked at the MOT.

You're assuming most people would familiarise themselves with where they were on the car, or even the fact that they have them.

Not a lot of point in some people carrying the breath testers. My dad got pulled over on the run up to Christmas. They asked him when he last had a drink.

"About 1998"

Spare Bulb sets and the ability to change a bulb at a safe roadside position.

 

 

A very good idea but 3 things required.

1 ) Spare bulbs in car

2 ) Folk need to learn how to 

3 ) Lamps need to be designed for easy bulb replacement. - Does not matter how practical or knowledgeable you are you will have fun replacing an Octavia 3 front indicator bulb at the roadside.

Exactly.

Totally impractical.  But some countries in the EU like the one that many first get to when leaving the UK by vehicle have daft legislation.

 

The UK will be introducing new legislation soon because of BREXIT so no point adopting stuff that bit has no need to like first MOT at 4 years then 2 yearly or the likes.

Get the UK roads safer for people and bring in sensible legislation.

Its a good idea as long as main dealers fulfill their responsibilities.

 

My experience is that they don't nowadays.

 

Instead of being proactive and telling you that a job needs doing now to maintain safety and avoid higher costs later on they turn a blind-un, you have to push them to do the jobs in a timely way. Why do you use a main dealer services and pay the premium for doing so, if you're not getting the full service ?

 

Some of the faults e.g. fast wearing console bushes, are so widespread (Across Skoda types) and damgerous, occuring even on relatively new cars, that, in IMHO,  recalls/type approval suspension is warranted. Yet nothing happens. 

 

So the only long-stop is the MOT and even that assumes that the operators of those services are independent and can resist the blandishments and suasion viz  future business exercised by big local dealers.

 

Nah. This is all being done under pressure from the car manufacturers to the detriment of consumers.

 

Nick