MOT extensions scheme ends on 1st August.
 

The scheme to extend MOTs is ending on 1st August 2020.






I do know someone who predicted that the way the scheme is operated was designed to facilitate a possible early end to the scheme.


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Good. We are seeing quite a few cars at the garage with dangerous tyres etc.How many mega smoky diesels do you see on a trip too?
The idea of extending the MOT from a year was a controversial one proposed before Covid, partially to appease the EU, but the world has moved on since then.

Really?

I don't see how the proposal to extend the MOT could have come "before Covid".

If there was a serious case for extending the duration of MOTs generally, then 6 months was an odd number to chose, and an unrelated outbreak of a pandemic an odd moment to announce it.
Even odder is to withdraw the extension after only 2 months.

I had not heard of a proposal to extend MoT validity beyond 12 months (which seems a sensible period to me), but I suppose BREXIT means we won't have to suck up to the EU any more anyway.

I think the 6 month extension was a sensible expedient during the pandemic - there wasn't really an alternative if non-essential businesses had to close in order to contain the pandemic (which seems to have worked as planned). It must have operated for at least 4 months (the Royal Barge's MoT was extended in April, and the scheme will run until the end of July), but there would be no reason to continue with the expedient, so it is right to end it and get the economy back to normal now.

I don't think there was anything nefarious about this whole issue: it was just a sensible thing to do during a crisis, which is now under control so there is no need to continue (Heckflosse is right - otherwise the standard of cars on the road will drop too far).

Alan

I missed the start date by 1 day... Boo

"Your car, van or motorcycle’s MOT expiry date will be extended by 6 months if it’s due between 30 March 2020 and 31 July 2020."

The MoT standards and intervals have nothing to do with the EU. Similar tests vary from country to country.

In this case I don't think there was any serious proposal from the government (to appease the EU or otherwise) to extend the MoT period, but it is certainly not the case that MoT requirements have nothing to do with the EU (hence Directive 2014/45/EU). The MoT exemption we enjoy for cars over 40 years old (and hence the Royal Barge, which is why I bothered to research it) is as a direct result of the EU. Whilst being most grateful for no longer having to get the Royal Barge tested, I must admit it makes no sense whatsoever to me. It seems ridiculous not to test old cars for safety and roadworthyness - if anything vehicles should be tested more frequently as they get older.

Anyway, EU bureaucrats are clearly much more intelligent and insightful than am I - so I'll happily drive my 40 year old Volvo and ride my 44 year old Suzuki legally without the need for a Mot test :-)

I don't think any British government will ever get round to rescinding this daft but helpful bit of EU law once the BREXIT transition is over :-)

Alan

That does make obvious sense, but I think it is missing the point. One old car may perhaps be unsafe, but the majority of cars over 40 years old are exceptionally well maintained, do small mileages, and are generally not used for peak-hours commuting.
Also there are very few of them, so whatever the risk posed by one individual car, in total the risk is miniscule.

Also, the actual testing procedure is increasingly diverging as between old cars and the latest modern ones. More and more of the tests involve electronic interogation of computer systems, and the number of old-style traditional mechanics capable of testing old vehicles is diminishing. Half the testable items do not apply to old vehicles.
I've owned vehicles in the past where I have had to show the tester how to operate them. One I had to drive the car myself and apply the brakes when instructed because the tester was too nervous. Also he was very small and the seat was not adjustable.

I understand your points of course - and read exactly the same in the consultation document the DoT engaged in after the EU directive deemed the UK's previous arrangements non-compliant.

What I'm seeing at the moment is a number of barn find cars and bikes being advertised as MoT exempt when they have not been re-commissioned and look (from the advertisements) to be nowhere near fit for the road.

Ho hum, not my problem, I'll keep enjoying driving the Royal Barge and riding my Bloop with no MoT test between them :-)

Alan