RMI to train MOT testers
The Retail Motor Industry Federation’s (RMI) training centre, the RMI Academy of Automotive Skills, will be running a pilot for the new MOT tester training from April 2016.
MOT
Posts
IAAF backs ProMOTe campaign
The IAAF, as part of its membership of the Automotive Aftermarket Liaison Group (AALG), has joined forces with the ProMOTe Campaign to fight the proposed changes to the MoT testing frequency.
Castrol predicts fall in number of franchised dealers
The Castrol Professional Car Servicing & Repair Trend Tracker report predicts that the number of franchised dealers is set to fall by 10 per cent over the next five years. This decline will come as the number of independent MoT testing stations grows by 5 per cent, the report adds.
TerraClean welcomes government vehicle emissions investigation
TerraClean has become the first aftermarket firm, perhaps even the first company to publically welcome the UK government’s plans to invest vehicle emissions in light of the VW scandal.
£1 million investment in BookMyGarage.com
Motorists will never need to feel like they are being taken for a ride again with the launch of an interactive booking directory of garages, which allows motorists to get instant prices for their car’s servicing, MOT, and repair requirements. The Motorist’s Organisation’s £1m investment sets to save consumers time and money by giving them the transparency of information to make an informed booking decision with confidence.
Change to 4-year MOT will lead to more road casualties, says Bridgestone MD
In his position as Bridgestone’s north region managing director, as well as chair of the SMMT Aftermarket Section, Robin Shaw has expressed concern at Chancellor George Osborne’s plans in last month’s Budget to extend the deadline for new cars and motorcycles to be MOT tested after four years instead of three. Shaw believes the added 12 months will result in more cars running on tyres with tread depths below the 1.6mm legal limit.
Bigger data, bigger voice
What links tread depth awareness, tyre pressure awareness and the furore surrounding the four-year MOTs? Data.
NTDA members voice further MOT concerns
Experienced MOT testers across the UK say that delaying the first test from year 3 to year 4, adds to the risk a vehicle or parts will become worn out or defective. With some figures suggesting that one in five vehicles fail the MOT in the first 3 years, adding another year will not only exacerbate the problem, but also mean that many vehicles will no longer be covered by most vehicle manufactures 3 year warranties.
Safety not the only concern over four-year MoTs, says HPI
Following news that the Government plans to consult on extending the MoT period from three years to four, HPI, provider of the HPI Check, warns that the risk of clocking fraud could escalate significantly.
The new plans were announced in the budget, which prompted an industry backlash concerning the risk to consumer safety, if vehicles are left without an MoT for an extra year. However, HPI sees a hidden threat from clockers, who will take advantage of the extension to turn back the mileage and sell the vehicles on to unsuspecting buyers.
Micheldever CEO speaks out against 4-year MOTs
Duncan Wilkes, CEO of Micheldever Tyre Services Ltd, has spoken out against government proposals to extend the time until the first MOT, calling such a move “a backwards step for road safety and a false economy.”
Speaking a week after the chancellor of the Exchequer referred the MOT proposal in his annual budget, Wilkes said: “It is incorrect to assume the test is irrelevant for new cars: Vosa’s own data indicates that 20 per cent of three-year-old cars fail their MOT tests. This means that moving the first test to four years would result in an extra half a million unsafe cars on UK roads.”
IAAF the latest to condemn MOT extension proposal
The IAAF has reacted angrily to potential proposals to extend the frequency of a vehicle’s first MOT test from three years to four years and plans to lobby the government on reversing any such proposals, stating that the current test frequency is both safer and more cost effective for motorists.
TyreSafe voices concerns over four-year MOTs
TyreSafe has voiced concerns that four-year MOTs will negatively impact road safety should the government decide to extend the time allowed before an initial MOT from three to four years. The comment follows the announcement in the Summer Budget speech on 8 July by The Chancellor, The Rt Hon George Osborne MP, which said: “We will consult on extending the deadline for new cars and motorbikes to have their first MOT test from three years to four years, which would save motorists over £100m a year.”
RMI also voices opposition to MOT extension
The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI), which represents retail business across the automotive sector including franchised dealers and independent garages, added to the NTDA’s objections its strong opposition to the proposed MOT change. The RMI believes the change could only harm the UK’s road safety record.
NTDA to challenge MOT changes on ‘road safety’ grounds
The NTDA plans to challenge at the consultation phase the UK government’s proposal to extend from three to four years the deadline for a new car’s first MOT. Chancellor George Osborne announced today that the Government is exploring the options, with the proposed changes to become part of the government’s forthcoming Motoring Service Strategy.
NFDA calls on government to allow private HGV-MOT testers
“A move to allow private HGV-MOT Testers could only be a step in the right direction”, said Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK.
