As you are probably aware, if you buy a brand new car at the moment, its first MOT is not due for 3 years. However, the Government is presently going through a consultation process about extending this time scale to either 4 or 5 years. The reason for this is that it is felt it will save motorists money.
The Government estimates that motorists who own 3 year old cars could save in the region of £91 million to £117 million. That is assuming there are around 2.6 million first MOT tests. That equates to motorists saving an average of £35 to £45 in the first 3 years of owning a brand new car. We are sure that you will agree that is not a particularly large saving.
Well, some research was undertaken by Savanta and published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) that revealed 67% of owners of cars in the UK were in favour of having the first MOT carried out when the car was 3 years of age as opposed to 4 years of age.
74% of car owners felt that having to pay out in the region of £35 to £45 was an acceptable sum to have to pay out to give him or her the peace of mind that their cars were safe to drive.
When you consider that in excess of 300,000 cars do not pass their very first MOT every year it perhaps gives cause for concern that the Government is considering extending the period that a car has its first MOT to either 4 or 5 years.
When you consider that inflation is so high at the moment here in the UK, it is quite possible that fewer motorists may decide to spend less on maintaining their motor vehicles.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is in favour of the Government keeping the first MOT test to be carried out on a brand new car at 3 years.
