MOT stays at 3 years

[swill453]

After consultation, the government has decided not to change the period until a car's first MOT test to 4 years, and is sticking with 3 years http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/92590/government-shies-away-from-extending-mot-to-four-years

Scott.

[Alaric]

After consultation, the government has decided not to change the period until a car's first MOT test to 4 years, and is sticking with 3 years

4 years was an EU harmonisation thing, which explains why they even considered the idea in the first place.

[swill453]

4 years was an EU harmonisation thing, which explains why they even considered the idea in the first place.

It wasn't really. The preamble in the consultation merely notes that some EU countries do it after 4 years, and some do it after 3. It also notes that any potential changes wouldn't be affected by brexit.

Scott.

[Alaric]

The preamble in the consultation merely notes that some EU countries do it after 4 years, and some do it after 3.

I believe the Directive said "let there be testing" with the effect that countries that didn't test at 4 years or earlier would have been forced to introduce it.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/ ... SUM:tr0035

Motor vehicles registered in a European Union (EU) country and their trailers must undergo periodic roadworthiness tests, i.e. to ensure that they are fit to be used on the road. Annexes I and II to this directive detail the categories of vehicles to be tested, the frequency of the roadworthiness tests and the items which must be tested. The roadworthiness tests must be undertaken by the EU countries, or by a public body that has been entrusted with the task, or by bodies or establishments designated and directly supervised.

4 years after the date on which the vehicle was first used, and thereafter every 2 years for:

—

motor vehicles having at least 4 wheels, normally used for the road carriage of goods and with a maximum permissible mass not exceeding 3,500 kg, excluding agricultural tractors and machinery;

—

motor vehicles having at least 4 wheels, used for the carriage of passengers and with not more than 8 seats excluding the driver’s seat.

[swill453]

I believe the Directive said "let there be testing" with the effect that countries that didn't test at 4 years or earlier would have been forced to introduce it.

So the directive would allow the change to be made (while we are still in the EU). But it wasn't for harmonisation.

Scott.

[Alaric]

But it wasn't for harmonisation.

If the Directive had said 2 years, rather than 4, the UK would have had to change its testing regime, as it would if they had left out the bit that said
"bodies or establishments designated and directly supervised" and made it a government function.

[swill453]

If the Directive had said 2 years, rather than 4, the UK would have had to change its testing regime

As would France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden etc. Not sure what point you're making.

Scott.

[Alaric]

Not sure what point you're making.

That the potential changes to the MoT Testing regime were driven by the EU, rather than by any UK government or lobby group. On this occasion, the UK has avoided having to make any changes and has found no appetite for a relaxation. It isn't always so lucky.

[swill453]

That the potential changes to the MoT Testing regime were driven by the EU, rather than by any UK government or lobby group.

Like I said, I don't see any evidence for that. And it certainly wasn't "harmonisation" as your first reply stated.

Scott.

[Alaric]

I don't see any evidence for that.

The evidence is the Directive as quoted above. It's harmonisation because of the imposition of a common minimum standard for vehicle testing across the EU.

[swill453]

The evidence is the Directive as quoted above. It's harmonisation because of the imposition of a common minimum standard for vehicle testing across the EU.

That's no evidence.

The directive states a minimum standard, which we already met. And it's been around since 2009.

Scott.