On Wednesday 18 January, the Department for Transport released a consultation on proposed changes to the MOT system in Great Britain and NFDA will be responding to this consultation after a full investigation into how this will affect motorists’ safety and the operations of franchised dealers.
The primary factor of this consultation considers changing the date at which the first MOT after purchasing a new car is required, proposing that the date of the first MOT is changed from 3 to 4 years.
Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents car and commercial retailers across the UK commented:
“The primary aspect to consider when proposing changes to the MOT system is the safety of motorists as a result of vehicle defects. With advancements in technology and testing, cars and commercials are increasingly becoming safer off the production line, particularly with components such as autonomous emergency braking systems becoming more widely adopted. It is critical that the MOT system evolves and adapts in tandem with the rapidly developing technology used in automotive vehicles today.
“Nevertheless, NFDA is concerned that these changes to the system may not be beneficial for motorists or MOT testing centres, particularly for franchised dealers, to justify the changes and we will be conducting a thorough investigation into the implications these changes may have. Franchise dealers will continue to ensure motorists on UK roads are as safe as possible through robust, professionally executed and frequent MOT testing regimes. NFDA will be responding to the consultation in due course, as well as keeping correspondence with the relevant government bodies to ensure future MOTs are conducted in a safe and fair manner.”
