NOTE – This article was published on April Fools Day – see if you can find the references!
The UK government is considering providing free MOTs this summer, in a bid to increase the country’s road safety record.
The plans would see MOT stations required to offer checks between June and September at no cost. The hope is to increase the number of drivers ensuring the safety of their vehicles, with the number of cars without an MOT increasing.
“Summer is a busy month on the road, with holidaymakers taking advantage of school breaks and warmer weather,” commented Aron Let, Junior Transport Minister. “We want to ensure that the roads remain safe, so having millions of cars with fresh MOT certificates will certainly be an improvement.”
As part of its Free Owner Onus Legislation, workshops will be required to conduct the annual checks at no cost. However, any retest can be charged, but only to a maximum of £30.
Extra month for free MOT
Additionally, to encourage car sharing this summer as part of its Joint Ownership Knowledge Enterprise, the government will add an extra month to its free MOT season, for vehicles used by two or more parties.
“We want to highlight that we are the party of the motorist,” Let continued. “If motorists take advantage of these schemes, we believe we can offer benefits to drivers that no other political part has ever provided.”
All workshops will be expected to comply with the free MOT rules, or they could face penalties, under the Legal Advance Under Government Hostilities rules, which will see harsh fines and potential immediate disqualifications from testing should complaints be received.
The news comes despite the recent actions of the aftermarket to both rid itself of MOT season, and to lift the current cost cap on the MOT, which has not changed since 2010.
“This is a win win situation for drivers and workshops,” Let told Auto Repair Focus. “Which businesses would not want hundreds of customers through their doors, at a time when work may be droppings with costs on drivers minds?
“You would have to be an April Fool to miss out on that opportunity,” he concluded.
