Garages Lobby MP over Loss of MOT Tests

1.27.00pm GMT Mon 25th Jun 2007

The Government is considering postponing the annual MOT Test until cars are 4 years old and garages in the Borough are warning that, although this will save residents a bit of money in the short term, it will make cars less safe and more polluting and drive up the cost of insurance.

MP Vincent Cable was lobbied at his constituency surgery by a representative from local garages (Waldegrave Motors; Orleans Motors; Mercury Motors, Strawberry Hill; Hill Motors, Fulwell; Nationwide Autocentres; Broad Lane Motors, Hampton) and expressed serious concerns about the impact of an initiative designed by Gordon Brown, to cut red tape. A government committee (the Davidson Committee) is currently consulting prior to a decision.

Vincent Cable said: "Britain has the best MOT system in Europe. Although the garages have an obvious self-interest in keeping a system which provides their bread and butter, they have an entirely legitimate concern that ending the current annual test will mean more dangerous, and polluting old bangers on the road. 30% of cars fail the annual MOT test and it is dangerous to allow many of them to continue on the road for another two years. I have applied for a debate in Parliament to make the case for the MOT test."