&RQVXOWDWLRQ 027±([WHQGLQJWKHGDWHRIWKH ILUVW027WHVWIURPWKUHH\HDUVWR IRXU\HDUV 'I7 -DQXDU\ The Department for Transport has actively considered the needs of blind and partially sighted people in accessing this document. The text will be made available in full on the Department’s website. The text may be freely downloaded and translated by individuals or organisations for conversion into other accessible formats. If you have other needs in this regard please contact the Department. Department for Transport Great Minster House 33 Horseferry Road London SW1P 4DR Telephone 0300 330 3000 Website www.gov.uk/dft General email enquiries https://www.dft.gov.uk/about/contact/form/ © Crown copyright 2016 Copyright in the typographical arrangement rests with the Crown. You may re-use this information (not including logos or third-party material) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or e-mail: [email protected]. Where we have identified any third-party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. 1 Contents Foreword ....................................................................................... 3 Executive summary ....................................................................... 5 How to respond ............................................................................. 7 The proposals ............................................................................... 8 The options for changing the timing of the first MOT…………..…12 Exploring the Benefits and Impacts….………………………...….. 14 Transfer of enforcement costs…………………………...………… 23 Consultation questions ................................................................ 27 What will happen next ................................................................. 28 Annex A Impact assessment ....................................................... 29 Annex B Consultation principles .................................................. 28 2 Foreword This consultation seeks views about changing the date of the first “MOT” (Ministry of Transport) test in Great Britain for cars, motorcycles and vans from when they are three years old to four years. The content of the tests would not be changed by these proposals. There are no changes being consulted on about cars, vans and motorcycles aged four years or more, with most of these vehicles needing an annual MOT test. Although many rules related to MOT testing apply to the UK through its current membership of the European Union (EU), the changes being consulted about in this document will not be affected by the UK’s exit from the EU. The MOT test originated in 1960, with the three year date for the first test being introduced in 1967. Northern Ireland operates a four year date for cars and motorcycles and three years for vans. Many other European countries, including France, Ireland, Italy and Spain, as well as Denmark and Norway (which are amongst a group of countries alongside the UK with very good road safety records in Europe1), have the first test at four years. Others such as Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden start testing at three years. France, Germany and Denmark require testing every other year after the initial test. The consultation includes some information about the possible risks of changing the age when MOTs are needed and the other effects including reductions in time spent and fees paid for the tests. Safety improvements applied to new vehicles continue to improve public safety as older vehicles are replaced. Improvements to safety standards for new cars continue to be 1 The British Road Safety Statement of December 2015 (figure1) illustrates recent comparative figures https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/487704/british_ road_safety_statement_print.pdf 3 implemented, with the UK Government taking an active role in international negotiations to secure more. Safer vehicles are one of five areas identified in the British Road Safety Statement where the Government is taking action alongside many others. For example, it is legislating for connected and autonomous vehicles and tackling further the distraction caused by hand held mobile phone use. I look forward to reviewing the responses received to this consultation. ANDREW JONES MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport 4 Executive Summary 1.1 This consultation document is seeking views on whether the timing of the first MOT test should be extended from three to four years after first registration. Currently over 2.5 million vehicles are inspected for their first MOT every year. 1.2 With more modern vehicles and improved technology, it now seems appropriate to review the threshold for the first MOT, a threshold that was introduced in the 1960s. 1.3 The options in the consultation look at making no change from the current position; extending the MOT deadline to four years for all vehicles currently receiving a first test three years after first registration; and extending the MOT deadline to four years while retaining the three year requirement for small goods carrying vehicles2 (which for the purpose of the consultation we will refer to as ‘vans’ in the remainder of this document). 1.4 Extending the first test requirement to four years would introduce a saving to consumers of over £100 million every year. The consultation also considers the wider impacts of such a change. More than 29 million MOTs are carried out at over 22,000 garages every year. These MOT businesses would be likely to incur a loss of income from any reduction in tests. There are also considerations around road safety to be made. We have also included possible effects on the environment. 1.5 The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) carries out enforcement checks on vans (goods carrying vehicles). Unlike the enforcement of heavy goods vehicles (which is paid for as part of the HGV test fee), these checks are funded from public money. We are taking the opportunity in this consultation to seek feedback on whether those 2 Small goods carrying vehicles includes goods vehicles in class 7 (between 3,000 and 3,500kgs maximum gross vehicle weight) and class 4 goods vehicles (below 3,000kgs maximum gross vehicle weight). Dual Purpose Vehicles in class 4 are considered as cars in the context of this proposal. 5 enforcement costs should be met through additional charges embedded in the MOT fee for those vehicles. 1.6 It should be noted that separately from the proposals set out here, we are considering the appropriateness of the current MOT test fees. We hope to consult separately on test fees in 2017. 1.7 We are naturally keen to have a wide range of responses to the consultation, bearing in mind the significance that possible changes may have for stakeholders. 6 How to respond The consultation period began on 22 January and will run until 16 April 2017. Please ensure that your response reaches us before the closing date. If you would like further copies of this consultation document, it can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/road-safety or you can contact Paul Wainwright with the details below if you would like alternative formats (Braille, audio CD, etc.). If you wish to respond electronically, please email: [email protected] Or complete the online survey which can be found here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/H8EJR/ If you wish to respond in writing, please address your response to: Paul Wainwright Freight, Operator Licensing and Roadworthiness Division 3/28 Great Minster House 33 Horseferry Road London SW1P 4DR Tel: 020 7944 2237 When responding, please state whether you are responding as an individual or representing the views of an organisation. If responding on behalf of a larger organisation, please make it clear who the organisation represents and, where applicable, how the views of members were assembled. Freedom of Information Information provided in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be subject to publication or disclosure in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. 7 If you want information that you provide to be treated as confidential, please be aware that, under the FOIA, there is a statutory Code of Practice with which public authorities must comply and which deals, amongst other things, with obligations of confidence. In view of this it would be helpful if you could explain to us why you regard the information you have provided as confidential. If we receive a request for disclosure of the information, we will take full account of your explanation, but we cannot give an assurance that confidentiality can be maintained in all circumstances. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not, of itself, be regarded as binding on the Department. The Department will process your personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act (DPA) and in the majority of circumstances this will mean that your personal data will not be disclosed to third parties. 8 1. The Proposals Background 2.1 Motorists are required to maintain their vehicles in a roadworthy condition at all times when used on the road. This helps to keep our roads safer and helps to protect the environment. 2.2 To promote road safety, the Government