MOT test 2018: what’s changed in the new system?

Diesel car owners could be severely impacted by a raft of changes when the MOT test is overhauled on 20 May. 

In a bid to reduce pollution and improve vehicle safety, the new test will target high-polluting diesel cars through stricter emissions tests and inspections of vehicle exhaust systems. 

Additionally, faults will be classified into three categories. Cars with only minor defects will be allowed back on to UK roads without a repair.

Here are the big changes arriving in the new MOT test. 

Stricter tests for diesels

MOT test centres will now be required to closely inspect the diesel particulate filter (DPF) on cars using the fuel.

Unlike the old test, in which engineers passed or failed the DPF through a visual inspection, the filters will need to be removed and examined in the new test. 

Cars that have had their DPFs removed or tampered with will immediately fail the test, The Sun reports. This could affect a significant amount of diesel owners as “a large number” have the DPF modified because it can frequently become clogged.

The visible smoke test will also be more strict, the paper adds, which could lead to more diesels failing if any sign of smog can be seen.

Minor, major and dangerous 

Faults will now be split into three categories: minor, major and dangerous. 

Vehicles with minor defects can still be legally driven on UK roads following the test, says Auto Express, but the faults will be recorded on the car’s online MOT record and certificate. Minor faults are similar to “advisories” on the old test. 

Major issues are significant enough for a car to fail its MOT, the magazine adds. These faults include oil leaks or signs of smoke coming from the exhaust. Cars with major faults can be driven on public roads as long as a repair for the issue has been arranged. A re-test is required once the repair has taken place.

Finally, cars with dangerous defects will not be permitted to leave the test centre until the fault has been repaired, says CarBuyer. For instance, a steering wheel that shows signs of falling off would be classified as a dangerous fault. 

More older cars are exempt from an MOT

Drivers with a car aged 40 years or older will no longer be required to have an MOT test to legally drive on UK roads.

The move will affect around 500,000 vehicles, the Daily Express says, which equates to around 1.5% of the 31.7 million cars registered in the UK.

Previously, only cars registered in or prior to 1960 were exempt from a mandatory MOT test, the newspaper says.

What else has changed?

Testers will now check steering systems and will fail a car if a steering box has a “heavy leak”, according to What Car?, while brake discs will be checked for signs of ware.  

Lastly, cars will fail the MOT test if their reversing lights are significantly worn or the bulbs have blown, the website says.