Drivers issued urgent warning of huge £1,000 MOT fine with 15 million road users at risk

Of the 41.2 million vehicles registered in the UK, around 15.6 million may not be safe because of their lack of MOT knowledge.

Drivers are required to have a valid MOT for their vehicle or they could be hit with a £1,000 fine, with the certification lasting for a year.

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New research also found that drivers were massively uneducated on how MOT tests are conducted and what they mean.

Almost one-fifth of drivers were under the impression that an MOT was dependent on mileage, while a further 16 percent thought an MOT was required only every two to four years.

In addition to the threat of a £1,000 fine, drivers could also be hit with penalty points on their licence, which will stay on there for four years.

With millions of drivers at risk of being fined for not having an MOT, the total amount of charges could total a massive £15.6billion.

Limvirak Chea, co-founder and CEO of Fixter, stressed the importance of drivers knowing about their vehicles and when they need to take them to a certified MOT garage.

He said: “Given how many in the UK rely on their car for daily trips, it’s shocking to see such a huge knowledge gap when it comes to keeping vehicles road safe.

“What’s clear from our findings is that drivers need to be educated on the importance of MOTs and servicing, regardless of how many years they’ve been on the road.”

Aside from an MOT test, drivers are encouraged to take their vehicles for a service when they think it is needed.

Generally, vehicle providers advise motorists to take their vehicles to a garage every 12,000 miles or annually.

This will have a greater impact on motorists who are required to drive further distances or for longer periods of time, such as tradespeople or taxi drivers.

The most common reasons for failing an MOT test include lighting and signalling issues, suspension problems and worn or damaged tyres.

Earlier this year, the Government consulted on measures to make MOTs “fit for the future”, which included changing the date at which the first MOT for light vehicles from three years to four years.

It was estimated that this could help motorists save around £100million a year if the proposals are brought forward.

The consultation also looked at whether electric car batteries should be tested to improve safety, new measures to tackle loud engines and look into how the DVSA could crack down on MOT fraud.

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The Government is currently analysing the feedback and is expected to publish results and make necessary changes in the near future.