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ONE
IN FIVE CARS FAILS ITS FIRST MOT
IAM Trust asks
Government to prove motorists are getting a fair deal
THE IAM Motoring Trust has pruduced research acquired through the
Freedom of Information Act that reveals that 21.6% of three-year old
cars fail their first MoT test (see note 1) - a higher failure rate
than in some European countries that do first roadworthiness tests
after four years (the European minimum).
"The high UK failure rates may argue against relaxing our MoT
testing regime from three to four years on road-safety grounds. But
do we have the full picture?"
A Treasury-sponsored review in 2006 (see note 2) suggested that the
UK practice of 'gold plating' the European minimum for
roadworthiness testing was costing motorists £465 million a year. As
a result, the Department for Transport prepared a consultation that
was due out in the summer of 2007 but has not appeared. In the
meantime, motorists have seen no action and may have incurred nearly
£1bn in costs for the current MoT testing system. Who can
blame them for worrying about being ripped off?" said Neil
Greig, IAM Trust Director.
A 2007 IAM Trust survey (note 3) showed that motorists viewed the
MoT test as an essential road safety measure but that they suspected
that failures were influenced by a garage's wish to carry out
unnecessary work.
"It's time for government to get MoT testing out of the 'all
too difficult' box; motorists have waited too long for answers to
important questions," said Greig.
The key questions are:-
· Why are first-test pass rates in some European countries better at
four years than UK pass rates after three years?
· Does the three-year UK MoT test unnecessarily "gold plate"
the European minimum requirement for roadworthiness - at a cost to
UK motorists of £465 million a year?
· Would the application of European minimum standards be enough to
guarantee roadworthiness of UK cars?
· Is there any evidence that accidents due to vehicle failure are
greater in countries that wait four years for a first compulsory
roadworthiness test?
· In the UK, only garages can carry out tests and supply the parts
and labour needed to rectify faults. In some European countries,
testing and rectifying procedures are separated - should we consider
the introduction of independent testing centres?
Greig also questioned why so many UK cars fail the first MoT test
after just three years when three-year warranties and service
agreements are common. "Is it because garages do the MoT test
before the three-year warranty service instead of after it, which
fuels motorists' suspicion that the MoT is being used to show that
the service has been done properly? Do manufacturers' service
schedules not cover all the points needed to pass a MoT test - if
not, why?" And finally: "Are high failure rates down
to motorists failing to maintain their cars properly?"
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First-time MoT
failure rates (2007), supplied by VOSA
In the 2007, 21.6% (580,754) of three-year old cars failed their
first test. Among 836,646 individual failure faults, the top 10
were:-
1 Lighting and signalling 271,567
2 Tyres and wheels 155,489
3 Drivers view of the road (Cracked/chipped windscreens, other
obstructions) 120,095
4 Brakes 110,327
5 Steering and suspension 99,798
6 Fuel and emissions 23,634
7 Reg plates and VIN (vehicle identification number) 19,047
8 Seatbelts 11,271
9 Body and structure 7,705
10 Road wheels (loose, missing wheel nuts etc) 5,746
Figures supplied to the IAM Trust by European motoring organisations
show that in some countries where they apply the EU-minimum four
years for the first roadworthiness test, the failure rate is lower
than in the UK (21.6%), eg France 5.61%, Switzerland 17.5% and
Norway 19.9%. However, the failure rate in Spain is higher than the
UK, at 32%.
In countries that also test for the first time at three years,
failure rates are far lower than in the UK (Germany 4.8% and Austria
10%).
Reference notes:-
1 VOSA response/table rates
2 Davidson Review (November 2006) <http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/E/F/davidson_review281106.pdf>
Implementation of EU legislation (pages 5-6, paragraphs 13-14)
3 IAM Trust MoT Test Survey 2007
4 European comparisons of roadworthiness failure rates
5 A MoT Test costs £50.35
6 The IAM Motoring Trust is the policy and advocacy arm of the IAM
(Institute of Advanced Motorists)
7 Retests:-
· normally free if faults are minor and carried out at the testing
garage by the next day
· normally free if car is left at the testing garage to have all
faults rectified
· original testing garage can charge up to 50% of the original fee
if the faults are rectified elsewhere and the car returned to the
original testing garage for a retest |
