WHY THE MOT IS A CORNERSTONE OF UK MOTORING ROAD SAFETY

The Introduction of The MOT Test
The MOT test was first introduced in 1960, by the Ministry of Transport - which is where the test gets its abbreviated name from. In 1967, the age when a vehicle was required undergo an annual MOT test was amended to three years - a threshold that remains in place for most cars today.
The average age of a car on UK roads is currently around 10 years old, which is the oldest on record, and up from just 6.8 years in 2000. We also now have over 40 million vehicles on our roads in the UK, with the number of these that fail their MOT test currently standing at around 27%.

The MOT Test's Classification System

The DVSA currently uses a classification system to grade defects discovered during an MOT test, which rank from:

• Minor defects - which have no significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment and other minor non-compliances. These don't result in a failure but should be repaired soon.

• Major defects - which may prejudice the safety of the vehicle, have an impact on the environment, put other road users at risk or other more significant non-compliances. These pose an immediate risk to road safety and must be fixed before the vehicle can be driven again legally.

• Dangerous defects - which are a direct and immediate risk to road safety or having an impact on the environment. These also pose an immediate risk to road safety and must also be fixed before the vehicle can be driven again legally.

If a vehicle has only minor defects, it will pass its MOT inspection, and a test certificate will be issued. If a vehicle has any major or dangerous defects, it must be failed and a refusal notice issued.

These categories help motorists to prioritise repairs and appreci...