The date of the first MoT test for larger vans should be brought forward to one year, not pushed back to four.
So says the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) in its response to the Department for Transport’s consultation on the future of the MoT.
Although the BVRLA supported the Government’s proposal to extend the period for the first MoT for new cars from three to four years, but opposed the same extension for class 7 vans (those weighing 3,000- 3,500kg). The association recommended that the date of the first MOT test for these large vans should be cut to one year after first registration, in order to address any potential safety considerations.
BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney said: “Van traffic is growing, and these vehicles’ average annual mileages are significantly higher than the average car on UK roads. At a time when the Government’s own data shows large vans have appalling first time pass rates, the BVRLA believes these vehicles should be getting tested every year, not every three or four years. Many large vans fail their first MoT because they have not been well maintained and have substandard brakes, so they pose a real risk to road safety.”
The BVRLA also opposed a proposal to add the cost of van enforcement to MoT charges rather than general taxation, like every other form of other case of transport and highway policing. If a levy is introduced, the association said there must be transparency in how any revenue generated is spent.
