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Is the new, more strict MOT test designed to force cars off the road?
I understand that a stricter two-yearly MOT test has been introduced with effect from January 2012, including items such as ESP, airbags and other potential repairs not covered by the present test. This will mean that owners of say cheaper and older second cars, and of older cars in general, may suddenly be forced off the road, and have their cars subject to repairs greater than their value, meaning that eventually they will not be able to tax them. This seems to me as if it may be sponsored by the motor industry to keep new car sales up and repairs buoyant, or another piece of anti-car legislation. What will the effect be and do you support them?
Asked on 14 January 2012 by HB, Tarporley
Answered by
Honest John
Like ABS, ESP will only be tested if it is fitted. But, of course, you are right. The motor and motor component manufacturing industries continuously lobbies the EC to introduce new requirements that ensure cars become economic write offs after a shorter life. Effectively, the build life of a car is now about seven years and if you get longer than that from one you are on borrowed time. Multiple airbags fitted to many cars these days are an uneconomic repair and I predict that failure of these will lead to the most otherwise good cars being scrapped. Much like the ‘Shaken’ test regime in Japan already has.
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