The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has unveiled a new change to MOT certificates, which could affect thousands of drivers.
Motorists will now be able to see whether their vehicle has been included in a car recall when they take their car for an MOT test.
A tweet from the DVSA informed drivers of the change, stating that there was "great news" for motorists.
It read: "Car recalls will now appear on MOT certificates. If you have a recall on your certificate, your vehicle manufacturer should tell you."
The vehicle recall information will now appear on the MOT certificate
PA
This will inform the driver on what the fault is, what they should do next and who they should contact for more information.
A picture accompanying the tweet shows the MOT test certificate, alongside the data which normally appears like the average mileage, the date of the test and the registration number.
It will now contain a message saying that the vehicle has an outstanding recall, with advice for the driver to contact their nearest DVSA dealership for information and to arrange a free repair.
If a recall has been announced and drivers are affected, they will need to get their car fixed or replaced by the manufacturer.
In the case that a repair is required, the drivers will not usually have to pay for any repairs or parts.
Previously, if a vehicle appeared on a recall database, an MOT tester would be required to check whether the recall had been remedied.
According to Lawgistics, if the reason for the recall was still there, the car may fail its MOT even if no other defects were spotted.
One of the most recent major recalls was for the Nissan Micra, with more than 41,000 vehicles affected.
The recall request stated that in some vehicles, if the seat is in a certain position, it could coincide with a design feature that would “exceed the stress limits of the rail material”.
According to GOV.UK, the most recent recall was for the Muvi electric motorcycle where some vehicles may allow old batteries to be charged, although this only affected 51 models.
The largest ever recall took place in April 2000 with more than 636,000 models of the Vauxhall Astra F having a “remote possibility” of brake fluid contamination.
If motorists are worried about their vehicles, they can use the GOV.UK website to check if their model has been affected.
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The Vauxhall Astra F was involved in the largest UK recall
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This can include vehicle safety recalls or other issues affecting the equipment like tyres or child seats.
By using the car registration number to check if it has been recalled, as well as information on safety calls that have not been fixed and the car’s MOT history.
