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MOT test to continue at 3-1-1


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MOT test to continue at 3-1-1

 

February 1, 2012

 

The garage trade is set to make improvements under a package of transparency and value-for-money measures unveiled today by Transport Secretary Justine Greening.

An evaluation of existing MOT test standards and frequency took account of the views and evidence offered by a wide range of organisations, including VOSA and MOT testing stations.

The government has decided to retain the existing rules on MOT test frequency.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening says: “Our garages are crucial to ensuring that Britain’s roads continue to be among the safest in the world. Most are doing good work but the latest data shows that there is room for improvement.

“I want each motorist to be confident that a visit to the garage ends with their car repaired to a high standard by reputable mechanics rather than uncertainty about cost and the quality of service.

“Giving drivers the very best information about garage performance is absolutely key to achieving this goal. It means that responsible garages will be well placed to reap the commercial benefits of transparency. Garages where performance is not up to scratch will find themselves under pressure to do more for their customers.”

As a result, the government will work with industry, motoring organisations and consumer groups to focus on the reliability and standards of all garages – not just MOT stations – to:

· Work with motoring organisations to find out what problems motorists experience and enable them to share examples of good customer service – in particular to find ways to make it easier for customers to give feedback on their experiences of garages in a way that others can see – potentially in the manner of existing online hotel and restaurant review websites.

· Shine a light on the performance of MOT testing stations by releasing hitherto unpublished VOSA survey data on whether the sector is complying with test standards. This is published today at www.vosa.gov.uk/fleet-compliance-survey

· Encourage the take up of industry codes of practice – and expand them to include MOT testing – so that customers can find garages signed up to schemes delivering the highest standards and take action if they have not received the service they expect.

· Help motorists to spot “clocked” second-hand vehicles, by changing MOT certificates so that they carry the last three years’ mileage information as well as the mileage on the day of the test, and encourage car buyers to check full MOT histories using the online MOT database.

· Arrange “mystery shopper” tests to help improve performance in addition to those already carried out by VOSA.

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  • 2 weeks later...

it has its pluses and it has its minuses...cars with the odd fault are not a major cause of accidents. No disater will occur because some people dont get their car mot'd annually. However the biggest issue i feel is that people use the MOT as the indicator to have the car repaired, they drive their car for the year take it for an mot and repair it to pass the mot then continue driving with no further work until the next MOT. We have to do this all the time for people...we had a beutiful lloking Jeep in we could not beleive it passed the mot last year, this year we said we wont even take it as the work to resolve the problems is too long...the owner still wanted us to try, the car ran beautifully but was chassis wise a wreck, rusted through in many places...

 

MOT's should be replaced by an annual service check...where the problems are resolved, not just to pass the MOT but to make the car safe and driveable...the MOT sort of works as is and is the best we have but I dont think it actually does a great deal more than just force a few people to have their vehicles part fixed...mostly its lights znd indicators that vehicles fail on...simple to fix but we dont fix them until after the MOT test..

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Totally agree with you Paul. People dont seem to realise that an MOT really is a very basic safety check. A car could pass the MOT and still fall foul of the law in some cases. Ie, the spare isnt checked to see if it is there or legal, nothing is allowed to be removed from the car for inspection, ie wheels, tyres, brakes etc.

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Whilst I agree the test needs to be more stringent I dont agree that garages that do repairs should be doing MOT's at all!

MOT centres should do MOT's and nothing else, not even 'reccomend' their mates garage, if it fails on nothing serious thats easily fixed like bulbs, bad tyre (within reason) minor corrosion then carry on with the present fix and re test system, if its worse then it needs to go to a garage or be SORNed THAT DAY.

That might encourage people to take the car to be serviced before the MOT earlier.

The present system is too open to abuse by the trade.

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Mi car needs an annual service so it gets done at the same time as the MOT.

The recommended service intervals are 12K or 12 months so that is what it gets. Even if it only did 2.5K one year.

It even checks its own lights so tells you when a bulb has gone. Carry a selection of spares in the glove box.

Have got a set for the Land Rover as well. After all 24v bulbs are a bit harder to get.

 

Sadly there are people who cannot even put water in a washer bottle. or check tyre pressures, let alone change a bulb.

Maybe they should change the driving test to include practical as well as theory.

 

Mind you car manufacturers do not make changing of bulbs easy either, some you need a spare half hour and numerous toold to do. But I suppose that is progress for you.

 

Mike

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