Vast majority of car owners don’t want MOT rules eased

Around 67 per cent of respondents to a poll commissioned by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) opposed extending the time before new cars, motorbikes and vans need their first MOT, due to safety concerns.

A Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on its proposal for new vehicles to require an MOT after four years rather than three closes at 11.45pm today, Wednesday 22 March.

More than 300,000 vehicles a year fail their first MOT.

The MOT test checks a number of essential parts on a vehicle, such as lights, seatbelts, tyres and brakes to ensure they meet legal standards.

DfT figures show that 26 people were killed in crashes on Britain’s roads in 2021 when vehicle defects were a contributory factor.

Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of respondents to the SMMT survey believe the typical cost of an MOT – which ranges from £35 to £45 – is worth paying for the peace of mind it gives them.

The SMMT said the proposed delay for the first...