As the cost of living crisis continues to hit the finances of families across the UK, Boris Johnson’s government have been tasked with finding ways of saving pounds and pence for the British public.
Motoring has already seen some benefits from the savings drive, with the Chancellor of the Exchequer announcing a small cut in fuel tax, which for a very brief moment during March looked like it might save us some money at the petrol pumps.
But now a report in The Telegraph newspaper is quoting a Whitehall source who suggests that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps might be giving serious consideration to lengthening the validity of MOT certificates to two years. By doing this, those who own a car will be saving themselves an average of £55, as they won’t be forced to renew every year.
“If we moved from an annual check to a check every two years, that is halving the cost of MOT renewal,” the source said in the Telegraph.
"That is a bread and butter policy that shows that the Conservatives are on your side.”
But while the scheme may offer some short-term respite, motoring organisations such as the AA are pointing out that the move may be more costly in the long term, as drivers may fail to spot problems with their engine which could lead to more expensive repair bills.
An AA spokesperson said: “Though well intended, moving the yearly £55 spend on an MOT to every two years could make costs worse for drivers with higher repair bills, make our roads more dangerous and would put jobs in the garage industry at risk.
“Only recently the Government stepped away from switching the MOT to every two years on the grounds of road safety, while AA polling shows overwhelming support from drivers who like the security that an annual health check provides.
“The MOT now highlights major and dangerous defects too, showing how important it is to keep cars in a safe condition.”