Changes to the date of the first MOT test (an open consultation).

[JonRGV250]

All the details..

Changes to the date of the first MOT test and research into other MOT enhancements

Seeks views on whether we should change the timeframe for the first date a vehicle should be MOT tested and evidence and views on other changes to MOT testing.

www.gov.uk

and a survey to give your feedback on any proposals..

Changes to the date of the first MOT test and research into other MOT enhancements

Please take a few minutes to take our survey.

www.smartsurvey.co.uk

This thread is kind of a follow on from one I posted back in May..

MOT fail thread

Biennial MOT tests. Last week this ridiculous suggestion reared it's ugly head again, and I'm 100% certain it won't be implimented, just like the many times it's been suggested before...

forums.overclockers.co.uk

although it looks a real possibility that they may increase the time frame between tests, which I'm very very much against.

 

[JonRGV250]

Is OP replying with pictures?

Go on then

One from yesterday..

The rear subframe has rusted away leaving the lower suspension arm just hanging there and not doing an awful lot (this is a very common problem on W204 C Class mercs).
It's almost unbelievable that the customer hadn't noticed the wayward handling of the car!

 

[JonRGV250]

Just curious, but excluding tyres, bulbs, wipers the real basic stuff that people should be checking anyway. Do you see many MOT failures on 4 year old cars?

Yup, mainly on "budget" French and Italian cars.
It's usually bushings, ABS, SRS and EPS warning lamps.

If it's of any use, this is the last 90 days MOT data of what I've tested and national average..

Make of it what you will.

 

[JonRGV250]

You’re not understanding. Mot testers are in short supply which means wages have gone up, electricity has gone up, rent has gone up, the cost to have someone like me come and repair equipment has gone up, for me to calibrate the equipment which is compulsory every 6 months has gone up. They have to do training, they have to upgrade or replace their equipment, the ministry want equipment to now be directly connected to DVSA servers, that costs money. I know of a garage that has shutdown because he’s had enough but prior to it he explained to me that he would be better off not mot’ing for the reasons I have given.

Absolutely bang on the money.
Most testers including myself have pretty much had enough of the BS yearly assessments, the inspector visits that assume one is guilty of some wrong doing and all the other crap involved.
It's far easier and better paid to go back on the spanners and to be left alone to get on with the job.
That said, the wages have increased by a fair margin over the last few years, but for most it just isn't worth the grief.

 

[JonRGV250]

The garage doesn't even need to train the staff as its all provided for by the government.

Not anymore it isn’t, they closed the training centres years ago.
The training is done by private companies now.

 

[JonRGV250]

Yey me. The difference I work this trade you don’t I guess, notice how John who also does isn’t opposed to what I’m saying.

Not opposed at all, you clearly know what you’re talking about, unlike ...

 

[JonRGV250]

I love my MOT guy. I take it for the test and if there's something that I haven't picked up on he'll call me over. If it's relatively cheap and quick to fix I tell him to sort it and generally he'll knock a fail down to advisory because the car doesn't leave til it's fixed anyway so there's no point in failing it to have to test it again because he knows it ain't leaving till it's fixed.

He's never seen me wrong and for that I always see him right...

That's all fine and dandy until a DVSA inspector wanders in and retests your car and then asks why the tester didn't fail it.
Then the tester will get points on his license (or worse a 28 day ban) and won't be a happy bunny.
Such a dumb thing to do for saving himself 5 minutes to retest the car.

 

[JonRGV250]

I actually thought the software used only allowed 1 car every hour.

You can complete an MOT in 2 minutes if you want, but expect a visit from the DVSA.
As long as a tester is logged into the test for 30 minutes then there’s no problem from the inspectors.
I complete most in 25 minutes or so, but stay logged in for another 10 minutes.