MB&G BELIEVES GOVERNMENT DECISION TO KEEP ANNUAL MOT TEST WILL SAVE LIVES AND JOBS

Insurance and warranty specialist, MB&G applauds the government’s decision to keep the annual MOT test, saving tens of thousands of jobs and helping keep motorists safe on the road. The government proposed to replace the current 3-1-1 MOT regime, where cars and vans are tested after the first three years and every year thereafter, with…

Insurance and warranty specialist, MB&G applauds the government’s decision to keep the annual MOT test, saving tens of thousands of jobs and helping keep motorists safe on the road.

The government proposed to replace the current 3-1-1 MOT regime, where cars and vans are tested after the first three years and every year thereafter, with a 4-2-2 system, where vehicles are only put through the MOT test after the first four years and then every second year thereafter.

This system is already in place in most EU countries, but would put tens of thousands of UK jobs in dealers, independent service outlets and MOT test centres at risk, and with fewer motorists investing in an annual service, this inevitably raises fears of reduced vehicle safety on the road.

The government proposal faced strong opposition from a multitude of trade bodies and organisations, including VOSA, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

In fact for the year ending 31st March 2010, VOSA listed a total of 816,839 vehicles as having defects considered dangerous by MOT testers; defects that contributed to the vehicle failing its MOT test. This figure, however, did not include those vehicles which failed the annual test and were repaired immediately.

MB&G managing director, David McPhee said: “In these tough economic times, motorists are trying to save money wherever they can, and unfortunately one of the first places they look to do this is on vehicle maintenance and repairs. We have already seen the AA reporting fewer people servicing their cars, so we are relieved to hear the government has decided to keep the 3-1-1 system.

“Drivers need to be aware that skipping services and not keeping their vehicle well maintained is a false economy at the end of the day. The annual MOT test and regular servicing can save a simple defect ending up in a costly or even deadly accident.

“The government’s decision has also saved a lot of jobs in the insurance and warranty sector. Keeping the MOT test as an annual occurrence has saved companies like ours a lot of time, effort and money we would have had to spend rebranding and repackaging MOT warranty and insurance products in a time of economic uncertainty.”


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