10m vehicles fail the new MOT test in the first 12 months

Stricter MOT rules deliver bad news for more UK drivers than ever

Changes were made to the MOT test in May 2018, updating what it checks for and deems acceptable as roadworthy for the 30 million vehicles on the roads of the UK, as they undergo their yearly appraisal.

Figures supplied to Green Flag by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (the DVSA) revealed some food for thought areas regarding the condition of a substantial percentage of the cars in daily use throughout the UK today.

Stricter checks for new MOT regulations

The new figures show far more cars are failing the test than in previous years, and at a considerable rise of around 33% since the latest test regulations were introduced.

Out of over 30 million MOT tests throughout England, Scotland and Wales in 2018, over 10 million failed to pass the certificate, compared to the 7.3 million total in 2017.

2.8 million (around 9%) of the new MOT certificate failures were due to ‘dangerous’ defects and over 9 million (44%) were due to ‘major faults’.

The new stricter MOT checklist, with its new 3 level defect categorisation (minor, major and dangerous), comes down heavier than ever on poor emissions testing, with smoke of any colour being emitted by the exhaust scoring a major fault.

Another new major emissions fail is if evidence is found of the DPF (the diesel particulate filter — the device that removes and stores exhaust soot in diesel cars) being tampered with.

Hefty fines for cars that carry the new MOT dangerous defects

The new MOT ‘dangerous defects’ dictate the vehicle unsafe for road use and simply not road legal. The really bad news for drivers is that this can result in a fine of up to £2,500 for motorists caught out with any of these issues.

What does this new MOT data mean?

Looking into the figures doesn’t necessarily mean that our cars are less safe, just that we’ve been getting away with it a little easier until recently.

The stricter regulations are simply catching out more drivers, who more than likely wouldn’t have the first idea that their car wasn’t operating in tiptop condition anyway.

Some sources are suggesting that drivers are extending the use of their cars before updating to a new vehicle. Their older cars being susceptible to faults from prolonged wear and tear or accidental damage and, subsequently, more likely to fail their MOT test. Which is hardly surprising in today’s economy.

As always, any vehicle to fail the MOT certificate test must have the faults fixed before retesting to gain the document required for legal road use. This is probably only good news for the mechanics and garages charging you for these extra levels of service.