MOT tests changed in England, Scotland and Wales in May 2018.

The changes affect cars, vans, motorcycles and other light passenger vehicles.

The changes can be broken down to five points:

1. Defects are categorised differently

   Defects are now categorised as:

   • Dangerous
   • Major
   • Minor

   MOT testers will still give advice about future potential issues, known as ‘advisories’.

   Item	Description	MOT Result
   Dangerous	A direct and immediate risk to road safety or has a serious impact on the environment. Do not drive the vehicle until it’s been repaired.	Fail
   Major	It may affect the vehicle’s safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment. Repair it immediately.	Fail
   Minor	No significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment. Repair as soon as possible.	Pass
   Advisory	It could become more serious in the future. Monitor and repair it if necessary.	Pass
   Pass	It meets the minimum legal standard. Make sure it continues to meet the standard.	Pass

    

2. Stricter rules for diesel car emissions

   Diesel emission limits are now stricter for cars with a DPF (diesel particulate filter).

   A DPF captures and stores exhaust soot to reduce emissions from diesel cars.

   Your vehicle will receive a Major fault if the MOT tester:

   • Can see smoke coming from the exhaust.
   • Finds evidence that the DPF has been tampered with.

    

3. Some new things are included in the MOT

   There are new items now being checked:

   • Tyres that are obviously under-inflated.
   • Contaminated brake fluid.
   • Fluid leaks posing an environmental risk.
   • Brake pad warning lights and if brake pads or discs are missing.
   • Reversing lights on vehicles first used from 1 September 2009.
   • Headlight washers on vehicles first used from 1 September 2009 (if they have them).
   • Daytime running lights on vehicles first used from 1 March 2018 (most of these vehicles will have their first MOT in 2021 when they’re 3 years old).

    

4. The MOT certificate will change

   The design of the MOT certificate has changed.

   It lists any defects under the new categories, so they’re clear and easy to understand.

5. Some vehicles over 40 years old won’t need an MOT

   Cars, vans, motorcycles and other light passenger vehicles won’t need to have an MOT if they’re over 40 years old and have not been substantially changed.

   Until now, only vehicles first built before 1960 were exempt from needing an MOT.

   Now the rules have changed, vehicles won’t need an MOT from the 40th anniversary of when they were registered or manufactured.

   For example if a car was first registered on 31 May 1978, it won’t need an MOT from 31 May 2018.
   You won’t have to apply to stop getting an MOT for your vehicle.

The wait for the first MOT test on cars and motorcycles won’t be extended to 4 years due to safety concerns.

Ministers put road safety first as they today (18 January 2018) decided to maintain the period before a car’s first MOT test at 3 years.

The move comes after a Department for Transport consultation last year to consider changing the wait before the first test to 4 years.

Most of those responding to the consultation were against the proposals on safety grounds, arguing that the savings to motorists were outweighed by the risk to road users and the test often highlights upcoming issues affecting the vehicle. A public survey for DfT by Populus also showed fewer than half of people were in favour of the change.

Roads Minister Jesse Norman said:

“We have some of the safest roads in the world, and are always looking at ways of making them safer.”

“Although modern cars are better built and safer than when the MOT test was last changed 50 years ago, there has been a clear public concern that any further changes don’t put people’s lives at risk.”

“We are looking at further research to ensure the MOT test evolves with the demands of modern motoring.”

By law, all vehicles must be roadworthy, regardless of whether they have passed an MOT, and the content of the tests will not be changed.

The test was introduced in 1960, requiring vehicles to undergo a first check after 10 years. It was changed in 1967 to 3 years.

In 2016 (the most recent figures available), more than 2.4 million cars had their first MOT test, which costs owners a maximum of £54.85. The pass rate was about 85% and the most common reasons for failure include lighting, tyres and braking faults.

Changing the time period until the first test would have saved motorists more than £100 million a year.

As a child, Rickie watched his father work on motorbikes, the 20-year-old was soon helping and learned mechanic basics, which then led him to study vehicle maintenance at Wiltshire College.

Progressing from Level 1 to 2, Rickie decided to pursue an apprenticeship to help him achieve his ambition of becoming an MOT tester.

Rickie began in the workshop as a general mechanic carrying out services and repairs and as he progressed, began to work on clutches, cam belts and even engine changes.

The Level 2 and 3 Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair apprenticeship programmes meant that he spent the majority of time in the workplace learning the skills needed, supported at College by industry experienced lecturers and technicians with fully-equipped workshops.

Rickie said: “An apprenticeship seemed the best route to help me get where I wanted to be.  You need to be hands on for this type of career so working in a garage was essential.”

The British Car Auctions (BCA) are warning motorists that 4×4 prices are already increasing and will continue to as the UK heads towards winter.

The average value of a 4×4 sold by BCA was £12805 a huge rise from the average value of £10381 in July.

Tim Naylor from BCA said “For many motorists – particularly those living in rural or remote areas – a 4×4 is becoming a necessity in winter, rather than a luxury”.

He added that those needing one this winter should purchase it as soon as possible as the prices are set to rise further over the coming months.

Little Chef has announced that it is to install electric vehicle (EV) charging points at each of its 126 restaurants across the UK by February 2012.

The company says this means ‘there will be a charging station within 30 miles of 90% of UK motorists by the end of next year.

They will also be providing the service free of charge until December 2012, so you can charge your car for free whilst you refuel in their restaurant.

Little Chef have partnered with renewable energy company SSE and EV charging technology company Chargemaster for the project.

A website has been launched allowing motorists to search by location any traffic accidents reported to the police since 2005.

The website displays the accident sites on a map and shows the severity and date of the accident – a more detailed report can be purchased although at a cost of £1.

Downloaded reports give information such as the weather at the time of the crash, the road conditions, and the gender and the age of anyone injured or killed.

The website www.crashmap.co.uk collate’s data from police databases and makes them searchable containing the records of over 1 million car accidents.

Tyresafe has recently launched its Magnificent 7 winter tyre safety tips.

Hoping to help motorists stay safe and legal this winter, they have compiled a list of 7 tips with information gathered from industry experts – all drivers need to do is follow their advice for safe driving below 7 degrees.

Their Magnificent 7 tips are:

1. Make sure your tyres have adequate tread depth to keep you safe and legal by taking the 20p test
2. Ensure your tyres are properly inflated and checked at least once a month and before any long journeys
3. Check the condition of your tyres by looking for any lumps, bulges or cracks and remove any objects embedded in the tread
4. When checking the tread, pressures and condition, don’t forget the spare
5. Consider fitting winter weather tyres for the whole winter period. At temperatures below 7 degrees C they provide much better safety and grip
6. Remove wheels or jack the weight off any vehicles’ tyres that will not be used over the winter months such as caravans, horse boxes or motorcycles
7. Visit your nearest participating tyre dealer for a free tyre safety check

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced that it will be creating 750 new jobs when it sets up a new engine production unit in the Midlands.

The new Wolverhampton facility will cost approximately £355 million and is due to start next year. JLR is hoping to make its own low-carbon engines for its vehicles.

Enjoying a rising in car sales, JLR has already recruited 3,000 workers this year alone and plans to expand further.

Vauxhall has this week launched is UK apprenticeship scheme, recruiting 39 apprentices in the September 2011 intake.

The apprenticeships ranging from engineering & maintenance to business administration will take place at venues across the UK.

Vauxhall’s plant director Mark Stein said “Until recently we weren’t in a position to take on apprentices but the decision in March to build the replacement Vivaro in Luton gives us a very solid future and it’s now more important than ever that we develop skilled apprentices”.

At a launch gathering on the 5th of September, the apprentices heard Phil Millward, Vauxhall’s HR Director summarise the opportunities that Vauxhall apprenticeships give when he said:

“This is the first day of your working life, make the most of it. I was in your place 42 years ago and you can have an outstanding career with Vauxhall and General Motors (GM). We are looking for the managers and the leaders of tomorrow; we grow and develop our own people and get a lot of satisfaction from doing that. We will support your growth and development in our organisation and you will get the same academic opportunities as someone who goes to university. Last year we were awarded the honour of being one of Britain’s Top Employers so go for it and become a superstar of this company!”

The Motor Industry has welcomed the news that the government is to introduce a variety of measures to make it easier for employers to take on a large number of apprentices.

Skills Minister John Hayes announced that payments would be simplified, contracts streamlined,  and a number of data returns and audit requirements will be eliminated.

Mr Hayes also said that firms contacting the government directly to train apprentices will also receive better guidance to help them manage the recruitment , training and assessment of apprentices more efficiently and cost effectively.

Employers looking to take on an apprentice should contact the National Apprentice Service to discuss their requirements.

Honda has announced that it is to recall nearly a million vehicles worldwide, due to defects in the drivers side power window switch units, which potentially could melt and catch fire.

Honda want to check 936,000 vehicles (Models Jazz, CR-V & City)  in North America, Asia, Europe and Africa.

Of those vehicles they have identified 171,372 owners in the UK are affected, all owning the Jazz model (years 2002-08).

Honda will be contacting the owners of affected vehicles direct and have assured them that there have been no reports of malfunction causing fire in the UK and that any replacement switches or preventative waterproofing will be carried out at no cost to the customer.

For more information visit Honda’s website.

The Retail Motor Industry (RMI) has hit back at recent reports that the government is planning to relax current MOT rules that compel motorists to pay for an annual MOT test.

Reports from Department for Transport (DfT) sources said it was important to review the scheme given the massive improvements in vehicle technology that have taken place over the past 50 years.

The RMI argues that there are safety issues involved in changing the current 3-1-1 system (where the first test takes place after three years and every year after that) to a 3-2-2 test (where the first test takes place after three years and every other year after that).

The DfT has written to stakeholders saying while the MoT was under review this was only a small part of a broader review.

John Ball, RMI MOT chairman said:

“It is positive news that the DfT have still not come to any conclusions on the frequency of MOT testing. The RMI along with other trade colleagues have been engaged with the DfT for some time on the wider issues around the current test and continue to view the review as a positive step. There are many areas of the MOT that could be improved and we have been in discussions with the DfT to air our views on what positive changes could be made.”

French car maker Citroen has recalled more than 20,000 examples of the C3 Picasso because of a fault with the brakes.

It has been discovered that the car’s brakes can curiously be applied from the passenger foot well.

This is due to a fault with the manufacturing process, during the car’s conversion from left- to right-hand-drive.

Part of the braking mechanism runs below the passenger foot well and is covered by a thin piece of felt, which can be pressed easily by anyone sitting in the front passenger seat and activate the brakes.

Citroen will fit all the affected cars with a brake isolator, though it said there was only a remote possibility of the problem occurring. It is offering the repair to C3 Picasso owners free of charge.

Tim Shallcross of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, added: “Citroen must investigate the problem as a matter of urgency. If the driver’s control of the car can be compromised, they must take action to modify all cars, via a recall if necessary.”

Toyota has announced the recall of vehicles in the US, Europe and China over concerns about accelerator pedals getting stuck on floor mats.

The Toyota TAV4s in question were manufactured between 19 March 2009 and 25 January 2010 in Tianjin.

Colin Hensley, general manager of Toyota’s European operations, said the carmaker was trying to establish how many European models shared the parts used in the 2.3 Million cars recalled in the US last week.

Toyota has now recalled almost 8 million cars in the US in the past four months.

“Toyota’s remedy plan is to modify or replace the accelerator pedals on the subject vehicles to address the risk of floor mat entrapment,” the company said.

The latest recall affects five models in the US: the 2008-2010 Highlander and the 2009-2010 Corolla, Venza, Matrix and Pontiac Vibe.

Separately, Ford said it would be suspending production of a van made and sold in China that has an accelerator pedal made by the same firm at the centre of Toyota’s investigations.
However, Ford said it had only been using the pedal in the Transit Classic model since December, with only 1,663 vehicles produced.