New DVSA plans could see major MOT test changes that may have huge impact on drivers
New MOT changes could be introduced next year
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The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) could roll out new MOT changes in the coming year which could involve ditching paper certificates.
Motorists are required to take their car for an MOT test every year to ensure their vehicle is road legal, with people potentially seeing new changes next year.
It has set a number of satisfaction targets for its facilities in a bid to improve its relationship with testing facilities and motorists.
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The organisation stated that it would be heavily influenced by the call for evidence and consultation launched earlier this year.
Drivers and motoring organisations were asked about ways to modernise the MOT testing format, as well as looking to cut costs for drivers.
The main proposal of the consultation looked at moving the date of the first MOT test from three years to four years with a new car.
This is already the standard practice in many countries including Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Potential new measures include introducing specific testing of pollutants like particulate number (PN) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
The aim of this is to ensure petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles always meet strict emissions requirements throughout their lifespan.
Details from the business plan suggest that the DVSA will focus on helping the industry test to the right standards and deal with “deliberate and fraudulent” work.
It will do this by building on work piloted in 2022 and 2023 which sees them record photos of vehicles at the test.
Machine learning technology is then used and deployed to identify patterns of fraudulent behaviour in MOT garages.
The business plan continues, stating: “For our public facing services – in particular MOT history, we will continue to improve these services.
“This includes adding data from tests conducted in Northern Ireland in 2022-23.
“We will continue to move away from paper certificates for all vehicles and encourage motorists to view their MOT status online.
“Additionally, we will further enrich MOT data to include information for customers about outstanding safety recalls – and we believe this will reduce numbers of dangerous vehicles on the roads.”
The DVSA has also vowed to modernise the light vehicle MOT test to adapt to changing and improving vehicle technology, including emissions testing.
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The DVSA consultation was launched in January earlier this year
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Investment will also be made in digital services to make it easier for drivers to work with the DVSA to access current and historical test results.