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

Soldato
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All the details..

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


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


although it looks a real possibility that they may increase the time frame between tests, which I'm very very much against.
 
Current MOT system seems optimal to me - if some people are having issues with the cost of it, which seems relatively minor compared to the cost of motoring, then assistance should be given on an affordability basis.

So many people maintain their vehicles as little (or as badly) as possible it is scary enough as it is let alone with relaxed MOT rules.
 
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Is OP replying with pictures? :D

I think I’d still get mine done annually anyway at the same time as servicing.
 
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Is OP replying with pictures? :D
Go on then :D

One from yesterday..

Q2H0cXu.jpg


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!
 
All the details..

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


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


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

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?
 
It's almost unbelievable that the customer hadn't noticed the wayward handling of the car!

Weirdly a lot of people don't notice until it is really bad - though I'm probably oversensitive to it the other way.

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?

A lot of people miss dangerous wear/damage on the inside of tyres for instance and that often starts to show up at 3-4 years on the average maintained car if it is happening. Even on vehicles with a bit more ground clearance it isn't that easy to check properly for damage like that - I've missed it myself before with the car on the ground.
 
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As someone who drivers an old car I'd prefer to keep it yearly but I'm not convinced on the cost savings if it was every two years as soon as it would be implemented the price of an MOT proberly would just double anyway. I'm sure theres many other ways to reduce the cost of motoring if this is one of the concerns.
 
The price of a Mot needs to increase anyway, it hasn’t been changed in a decade yet nearly everything else has increased. The hourly rate most garages charge is on par or exceeds the price of a mot, which means a lot of garages make little on a mot and some maybe makes less than the price. The whole thing is complete nonsense.
 
The price of a Mot needs to increase anyway, it hasn’t been changed in a decade yet nearly everything else has increased. The hourly rate most garages charge is on par or exceeds the price of a mot, which means a lot of garages make little on a mot and some maybe makes less than the price. The whole thing is complete nonsense.

A bit of a debatable one but personally not in favour as it would likely increase the number of people either driving without one or other dodgy ways to get around it.
 
A bit of a debatable one but personally not in favour as it would likely increase the number of people either driving without one or other dodgy ways to get around it.
It’s not a debate it’s economics. Everything has gone up for the owner of a garage, the hourly rate they have to charge has had to go up which means for many their hourly rate exceeds the price of a mot.
 
It’s not a debate it’s economics. Everything has gone up for the owner of a garage, the hourly rate they have to charge has had to go up which means for many their hourly rate exceeds the price of a mot.

Which I'd be more onboard with when it comes to repairs and so on but less so when it comes to something compulsory like this.

EDIT: In terms of debatable I was more meaning the aspect of not doing something because people might turn increasingly to illegal means in response to that.
 
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I would like to see the date of the MOT dependent on the mileage. Higher mileage means more wear and tear. If a car drives 100k miles in its first year then it should have a full MOT; if a car drives 2500 miles then maybe a full MOT isn't necessary, nor a MOT every year.
 
Which I'd be more onboard with when it comes to repairs and so on but less so when it comes to something compulsory like this.

EDIT: In terms of debatable I was more meaning the aspect of not doing something because people might turn increasingly to illegal means in response to that.
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.
 
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..

Hq6XIQE.png


Make of it what you will.
 
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.
Surely most garages would just absorb this by increasing the hourly rate on normal work?
 
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.

Wasn't really the aspect I was focusing on as debatable but to be honest I don't have much sympathy - I know things have got more expensive but for instance I had a aux/fan belt changed recently - dealer wanted £72 labour (and they were doing me a favour on the labour rate), £45 in parts, most of the other garages I got quotes from, even the little indie places, were around £200. Dunno how that matches up with other parts of the country mind.

(As an aside it is a £17 part - if it wasn't for the weather and lack of a decent place to do it I'd have done it myself).
 
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