British drivers think doubling the time between car technical inspections is a bad idea

UK drivers have serious concerns about the Government’s plans to change compulsory technical inspections, known as the ‘MOT’, from every year to every two years to reduce the cost of living, with many believing it will lead to a rise in the number of unsafe vehicles on the road.

More than half (55%) of the 1,435 drivers surveyed by the RAC, a motoring organisation, said they felt changing the MOT to every two years was a bad idea. Just over a fifth (22%) said they thought it was a good idea while a similar proportion (23%) were unsure.

When asked why they felt it was a bad idea, the overwhelming majority (98%) said it would result in more unsafe vehicles on the road while a fifth (20%) thought it would lead to an increase in the number of collisions on the road.

And, even though the Government’s proposal is meant as a way to ease financial pressures in the cost-of-living crisis, drivers are also not convinced about the possible money-saving benefits. More than half (58%) say the changes could end up costing drivers more in the long run due to problems or defects going undetected and becoming more costly to repair, while 44% believe it might cause garages to put prices up for other repairs to compensate for lost earnings from doing less MOT work.

In the UK, a car requires an MOT three years after its first registration and thereafter on an annual basis.

EU rules on periodic technical inspections are currently being reviewed, though any proposed changes will not affect the UK, following its exit from the bloc in 2020.