New research reveals a third of drivers in danger of MOT expiring

New research from Kwik Fit reveals that a third (34%) of drivers don’t book their MOT in advance, and as a result are in danger of being caught out when their MOT expires.

In addition to the motorists who forget their MOT expiry date, there are 1.1 million car owners who are choosing not to get their car’s MOT renewed on the due date. With money tight, and motorists looking to stretch their budgets as far as possible, these drivers say that they will either wait until they are required to show their MOT certificate to renew it, or are letting time elapse to maximise the longevity of the new test.

Police data shows that the combination of drivers with memory lapses and those deliberately delaying renewal means that as many as 10% of cars on UK roads may not have a valid MOT.

However, while some drivers may feel the MOT to be an inconvenience, the test is crucial to road safety. 40% of all cars fail their annual MOT, with average vehicle failing the test doing so on more than three issues. The five most common reasons for failure are:

Lighting and signalling defects
Suspension defects
Defective brakes
Illegal tyres
Impaired driver’s view of the road

David White, customer services director at Kwik Fit, said: “If car owners are used to their car regularly passing the MOT with no problems, they may view an MOT simply as a piece of paper they need in order to get their car taxed. However, the statistics show that the test plays a vital role in identifying defects on a car that render it unroadworthy and unsafe to drive.

“It also provides a warning of items which will shortly become unsafe by highlighting them as ‘advisory’. This allows owners to rectify defects before they cause a problem, enabling them to drive with confidence in the safety of their car.

“With more police forces across the UK using cameras to automatically scan number plates, and linking to the national vehicle database, those drivers who have forgotten to renew their MOT could be in for a rude awakening.”

With so many drivers forgetting when their MOT is due, there is a demand for a reminder service. 57% of drivers said that they would sign up for a free email service, compared to only 18% who say they would be unlikely to do so.