I live in France and other here cars have an Mot test every two years, I believe that Britain is also going the same way.
But is a two year mot test really a good thing?
While a two year gap between mot tests is probably acceptable on well maintained cars, what about the bracket of cars that are not maintained at all.
Many owners simply do not have their car serviced and therefore have to rely on luck on thier car passing the mot test.
Imagine the condition some un-maintained cars will get in before they are checked over for any faults.
Cars can deteriorate at an alarming rate and as a result become very unroadworthy.
It also seems strange that the British goverment keeps harking on about enviromental issues and are supposed to meeting targets to reduce harmful gases and yet are quite prepared to allow cars to go another year before testing them for emissions.
I am no believer in all this enviromental nonsense but there does seem to be a contradiction in what the goverment is saying.
Steve
Is the two year mot test really a good thing?
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HolgerS
Over here in Germany we have also 2Y MOT. I don't like this static approach. Why testing a brand new car after that period or a 50 year old well maintained vintage car? I would like to see something like no MOT for the first 4-5 years, than every two years and for any vehicle which passed the vintage car test and gets a vintage car plate only every 4-5 years again.
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SprintMWU773V
- TDC Staffs Area Organiser
- Posts: 5429
- Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:08 pm
- Location: The Old Asylum
The main trouble is that certainly here in the UK many people assume that once they've got their MOT their car is OK for the year. A bit like people get their car serviced and thats it till next time. WRONG
Cars require checking more regularly e.g. fluids and tyres but too many people believe this is the job of the MOT man or service dept. I do pretty much all my own servicing on all our cars and check them regularly which came in handy when I caught the early stages of the MG's head gasket failing, most people wouldn't have realised until it was too late and the engine was about to go into meltdown.
Despite the fact that new cars last pretty well and seem to wear out less quickly I still like the 3 year MOT rule. It's amazing how rough a car can get it 3 years with bald tyres, worn suspension components and never had the bonnet lifted.
A 2 year MOT won't catch on here because the garages will complain, it will create a false sense of security for owners and will cost the government money.
Cars require checking more regularly e.g. fluids and tyres but too many people believe this is the job of the MOT man or service dept. I do pretty much all my own servicing on all our cars and check them regularly which came in handy when I caught the early stages of the MG's head gasket failing, most people wouldn't have realised until it was too late and the engine was about to go into meltdown.
Despite the fact that new cars last pretty well and seem to wear out less quickly I still like the 3 year MOT rule. It's amazing how rough a car can get it 3 years with bald tyres, worn suspension components and never had the bonnet lifted.
A 2 year MOT won't catch on here because the garages will complain, it will create a false sense of security for owners and will cost the government money.
Mark
1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30
1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30
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2F45T4U
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Nathan Mwk 627G
The only thing i can say about this is a short conversation i had about 5 weeks ago with a middle aged guy with a relativly new car......
ME..."when i took the triumph for a MOT last year all it needed was a steering gaiter which cost £3.25 and i got a 12 month ticket"
GUY...."i dont beleive it.....i took this for its 1st MOT from new and it cost me nearly £450 for its mot!!"
So what i got from that conversation was his "New" looking car was in alot worse condition than my 39year old Triumph!!
I think a 2/3/4 year gap between MOT's is completely wrong, as stated above, car's can deteriorate at a alarming rate if not looked after, and new car's should go for an mot like every other older car on the road....
EVERY YEAR and it should be kept like that!!
To be honest if they were to cut the price down so it was more reasonable for people im in favour for an MOT every 6 months (like taxi's) for cars over 10 years old, so these people out there who buy cheap bangers and run them into the ground, have to make sure its in a roadworthy state alot sooner than there are at presant!!
i followed a older car on wednesday and the c**p that was coming out the exhaust was so over powering it was making me feel sick, it was coming in through the vents on the van and i had to put up with this for nearly 5 miles as the sod always went the same way i wanted to go!! what are the chances of that getting fixed befor its next MOT? and if its just had an MOT befor the problem developed then its nearly 12 months befor the owner even looks at it!!
Nathan
ME..."when i took the triumph for a MOT last year all it needed was a steering gaiter which cost £3.25 and i got a 12 month ticket"
GUY...."i dont beleive it.....i took this for its 1st MOT from new and it cost me nearly £450 for its mot!!"
So what i got from that conversation was his "New" looking car was in alot worse condition than my 39year old Triumph!!
I think a 2/3/4 year gap between MOT's is completely wrong, as stated above, car's can deteriorate at a alarming rate if not looked after, and new car's should go for an mot like every other older car on the road....
EVERY YEAR and it should be kept like that!!
To be honest if they were to cut the price down so it was more reasonable for people im in favour for an MOT every 6 months (like taxi's) for cars over 10 years old, so these people out there who buy cheap bangers and run them into the ground, have to make sure its in a roadworthy state alot sooner than there are at presant!!
i followed a older car on wednesday and the c**p that was coming out the exhaust was so over powering it was making me feel sick, it was coming in through the vents on the van and i had to put up with this for nearly 5 miles as the sod always went the same way i wanted to go!! what are the chances of that getting fixed befor its next MOT? and if its just had an MOT befor the problem developed then its nearly 12 months befor the owner even looks at it!!
Nathan
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bifold
Keep the once a year test,Ihave a 40 year old j2 and since I have not got a four post lift or rolling road I get a lot of comfort that its is being tested and inspected with good equipment and meets the required standard at least once a year,
Why should our safty standards drop lower,We all know the amount people on the road without insurance or tax and mots as it is,
we need a new two strikes and your out rule if your lacking two items of the following list, no mot,insurance,tax, driving license ,your cars crushed
What we should have is a combined insurance/mot/tax disc that starts at year one of the cars/vans life, after all a good chunk of them are company owned and the cost would be set against tax
Why should our safty standards drop lower,We all know the amount people on the road without insurance or tax and mots as it is,
we need a new two strikes and your out rule if your lacking two items of the following list, no mot,insurance,tax, driving license ,your cars crushed
What we should have is a combined insurance/mot/tax disc that starts at year one of the cars/vans life, after all a good chunk of them are company owned and the cost would be set against tax
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Mr.Speedy
The majority of peolpe who own and run classic cars are enthusiasts who enjoy (?) looking after their cars, and as such like to keep them in good running order.
The ones to watch are the dossers running around in shagged out 15 year ols sierras and cavaliers etc. But then again they probably don't bother with the annual test anyway. ( or insurance )!!!!
The biggest problem is the mis- interpretation and inconsistancy between one tester and another.
P.S. Can anyone give a sensible answer as to why a small hole in a C.V. joint gater constitutes a dangerous fault and therefore a fail? Surely the worst that can happen is the joint fails and flaps about, but this can happen to standard U.J.'s and they're not tested!!!!
The ones to watch are the dossers running around in shagged out 15 year ols sierras and cavaliers etc. But then again they probably don't bother with the annual test anyway. ( or insurance )!!!!
The biggest problem is the mis- interpretation and inconsistancy between one tester and another.
P.S. Can anyone give a sensible answer as to why a small hole in a C.V. joint gater constitutes a dangerous fault and therefore a fail? Surely the worst that can happen is the joint fails and flaps about, but this can happen to standard U.J.'s and they're not tested!!!!
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Dollyboy
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MalcGE
The move from 3,1,1 to 4,2,2 if it ever gets past consultation stage will really create an uproar in the industry.
It would effectively half the volume of MOT's done annually and the impact on MOT stations (garages) would be significant. I understand that over 20% of the vehicles submited for their first MOT 'FAIL' and when you consider that a high mileage driver could do 200k miles before a first 4 year MOT the concept is mind numbing.
I also find MOT's a right PITA but it is an essential part of maintaing safe roads. No matter how well we all look after our cars we don't check brake hoses etc etc thoroughly etc etc every time we have a wheel off so it would be easy to miss something.
It won't save anyone any money either cos the equipment ain't gonn get any cheaper so garages are going to have to charge more to cover the cost of updating to the latest equipment by charging more for less frequent visits. Look at how spark plug technology has moved on, no longer do you need a set of BN7Y's every 6000 miles at £10 a set, you only need a set at 70k on some cars at a lot more that £10 a set
It would effectively half the volume of MOT's done annually and the impact on MOT stations (garages) would be significant. I understand that over 20% of the vehicles submited for their first MOT 'FAIL' and when you consider that a high mileage driver could do 200k miles before a first 4 year MOT the concept is mind numbing.
I also find MOT's a right PITA but it is an essential part of maintaing safe roads. No matter how well we all look after our cars we don't check brake hoses etc etc thoroughly etc etc every time we have a wheel off so it would be easy to miss something.
It won't save anyone any money either cos the equipment ain't gonn get any cheaper so garages are going to have to charge more to cover the cost of updating to the latest equipment by charging more for less frequent visits. Look at how spark plug technology has moved on, no longer do you need a set of BN7Y's every 6000 miles at £10 a set, you only need a set at 70k on some cars at a lot more that £10 a set
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1300dolly
i agree with the above 
The french version if the mot is a lot stricter than the uk variant , a lot of british cars would fail the french test.
I get call outs to a lot of cars that wont start or have cut out whilst on the move ,if apon lifting the bonnet i see its very dirty/oily i ask when it was last serviced and the answer is normally
'it was mot'd in 'month'' or something along the lines of
'i had the tyres checked last week' or ' ithink my hubby sorts that out'
with this type of answer the bonnet gets shut and they get a tow to a nearby garage.
'but they have paid for roadside assistance' i hear you say.
that maybe the case but read the small print on all policys ,including insurance .
'the car must be regulaly serviced and in a roadworthy condition'
prove of sevice should be a condition of insurance or tax (receipts for buying the sevice items could be aceptable for the diyer)
The french version if the mot is a lot stricter than the uk variant , a lot of british cars would fail the french test.
I get call outs to a lot of cars that wont start or have cut out whilst on the move ,if apon lifting the bonnet i see its very dirty/oily i ask when it was last serviced and the answer is normally
'it was mot'd in 'month'' or something along the lines of
'i had the tyres checked last week' or ' ithink my hubby sorts that out'
with this type of answer the bonnet gets shut and they get a tow to a nearby garage.
'but they have paid for roadside assistance' i hear you say.
that maybe the case but read the small print on all policys ,including insurance .
'the car must be regulaly serviced and in a roadworthy condition'
prove of sevice should be a condition of insurance or tax (receipts for buying the sevice items could be aceptable for the diyer)
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dailysprinter
- Guest contributor
- Posts: 437
- Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2006 7:31 am
Considering the Ministry of transport are looking to make redundancies I think it is definately going to happen. We always follow the rest of bloody Europe, 2 years MOT's is going to be the way like it or not.
I beleive that existing Mot's may even get extended too, and yes probably third to half of all garages may close too.
Personally I'm not in favour and I run some very old well maitained vehicles.
I beleive that existing Mot's may even get extended too, and yes probably third to half of all garages may close too.
Personally I'm not in favour and I run some very old well maitained vehicles.
1979 Triumph Dolomite Sprint Highly Modified
2006 Triumph Sprint St 1050
2012 BMW 318d Touring
2006 Triumph Sprint St 1050
2012 BMW 318d Touring
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MalcGE
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Jon Tilson
- Guest contributor
- Posts: 11179
- Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:45 pm
- Location: Middlesex
My take...
is why does it cost the same to test a dolomite with no cat, no power steering no abs and no electronic anything as it does to test an XJ12 with all the bits?
It cant possibly take the tester the same time yet Im expected to shell out the same....
Cars not requiring an emission test should pay less...and retests should be free....
The new computerised system has not only raised the price but nobody round here does free retests.
You only need a 2 year test anyway if you phase your test and tax disk renewal correctly...
I got a new disk on the rover with 2 days left of Mot....clever that.
I would love a 2 year MoT....half the stations round here are inconsistent cowboys anyway...I wouldnt miss many of them.
Jonners
It cant possibly take the tester the same time yet Im expected to shell out the same....
Cars not requiring an emission test should pay less...and retests should be free....
The new computerised system has not only raised the price but nobody round here does free retests.
You only need a 2 year test anyway if you phase your test and tax disk renewal correctly...
I got a new disk on the rover with 2 days left of Mot....clever that.
I would love a 2 year MoT....half the stations round here are inconsistent cowboys anyway...I wouldnt miss many of them.
Jonners
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.
