New MOT test clamps down diesel cheats

Motorists who have removed the diesel particulate filter (DPF) from their car's exhaust to save on the £1,000 cost of replacing it will be lumbered with a car or van that's unable to pass the MOT.

Changes to the MOT test criteria means that a major fault will be assigned to the vehicle if smoke of any colour is witnessed coming from the exhaust or if the DPF has been tampered with or removed. The cost of DPF replacement has led to many drivers removing it entirely, but these vehicles will now fail the MOT. The government has tightened regulation because an estimated 40,000 people every year in Britain die prematurely due to air pollution.

The new MOT

The MOT test for cars, vans and has changed and in so doing, moved a little nearer to being the assessment of a vehicle’s condition that many motorists assume it to be.

The old MOT was a rudimentary test of a vehicle’s most basic functions and although an assessment of exhaust gas has been added relatively recently, it’s not uncommon for the buyers and sellers of vehicles to put too much store in a clean MOT.

There are five main changes to the MOT. Defects found during the test are now categorised as either dangerous, major, minor or advisory.

The dangerous classification signifies a fault that represents a direct and immediate risk to road safety or has a serious impact on the environment. As a result, a car given this classification will not only fail the MOT, but is not allowed to be driven home. The motorists will either have to have the car repaired on site or call their breakdown provider for recovery.

The major fault classification also leads to an MOT fail. However, the tester has determined that it may affect the vehicle’s safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment, so while there is a requirement that the fault is repaired without delay, the vehicle can be driven away legally.

The minor fault classification signifies no significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment. A vehicle with a minor fault will pass the MOT.

An advisory alerts a motorist of a minor fault that could become more serious in the future. As was the case with the old MOT, the vehicle passes and the advice is to monitor the fault and repair as and when it becomes necessary

Other changes to the MOT

The new MOT includes stricter limits for emissions from diesel cars with a diesel particulate filter – the device that captures the exhaust soot from diesel cars that is detrimental to health.

A major fault will be assigned to the vehicle if smoke of any colour is witnessed coming from the exhaust or if the DPF has been tampered with or removed. The cost of DPF replacement has led to many drivers removing it entirely, but these vehicles will now fail the MOT.

Some new items are tested during the new MOT include checking if tyres are obviously under-inflated, brake fluid is contaminated, fluid leaks pose an environmental risk, brake pad warning lights, reversing lights and headlight washers on vehicles first used from 1 September 2009, daytime running lights on vehicles first used from 1 March 2018.

Older cars

Cars, vans, motorcycles and other light passenger vehicles now don't need to have an MOT if they’re over 40 years old (and have not been substantially changed).

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