A petition has been launched by automotive trade bodies to stop 4-1-1 MOT, following widespread industry campaigning.
This petition comes following a public consultation that has also been seeking views on the frequency of MOTs, the government favouring the option of extending the first MOT from three to four years. Thanks to widespread industry campaigning led by the IGA, the consultation end date has already been extended by three weeks until the 22nd of March.
The 4-1-1 MOT structure has been branded by the government as a way for motorists to save money, but the £40 test average will disappear in extra repair bills. Not only this, but extending the test is dangerous and the report itself states casualties could go up between 16-65 a year. Furthermore, according the DVSA, 13 per cent of three-year-old vehicles fail their first MOT on a major or dangerous defect, raising to 15.4 per cent for four-year-old vehicles. The proposed changes also rely on motorists getting their cars serviced to keep their vehicles roadworthy, but the report doesn’t say how this will be implemented.
Industry bodies backing the petition include the Independent Garage Association (IGA), the Garage Equipment Association (GEA) the Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA), the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) and the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA).
The UK government will respond to the petition at 10,000 signatures, but the IGA is aiming to reach 100,000 signatures so it will be considered for debate in parliament.
