With news emerging last week that the UK government was considering waiving the yearly MOT in favour of a bi-annual test, some of the country’s leading motoring experts have voiced their opinion.

Moving the test to once every two years has been proposed as one of the many ways in which the British public can ease the cost of living, with the annual cost of keeping a car one of the biggest stresses on a family’s finances.

Analysis last week revealed that the average car owner will spend £3,500 on keeping their car on the road, including taxes, fuel, insurance and the dreaded MOT. But after Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak attempted to ease the financial burden by cutting fuel tax, it is now the turn of the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps to try and cut costs.

It wouldn't be the first time that car owners have been given dispensation on their MOT, as many vehicles were given an extended certificate of validation during the worst of the pandemic lockdown.

The AA warned that the move to cut the MOT to every two years would be dangerous, and now the Chief Executive of one of the UK’s biggest online mechanics, MotorEasy has added weight to the argument.

“This approach from the Government strikes me as nothing more than a distraction from the core issue, which is that tax is too high,” said Duncan McClure Fisher, CEO of MotorEasy.

“What they should be addressing instead is the fact we need a reduction in fuel duty, as well as a drop in the rates of National Insurance and VAT.

“Doubling the time period MOT certificates are valid for will simply leave our roads unsafe just to save drivers £27 a year – half the cost of a standard MOT.

“Faults that many MOT testers deem to be advisory now would become compulsory as they’d know the vehicle wouldn’t be checked for another two years.”

The average MOT certificate can cost car owners up to £55 a year, plus whatever associated costs are included to make the car roadworthy.

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