New MOT failure rules coming in May 2018 – and it’ll be harder for diesels to pass
From May 2018 the annual MOT test will get a shake-up with new failure and defect categories to make it clearer if your car is dangerous. Emissions testing will also be tightened to make dirty diesels more likely to fail
NEW MOT rules will make it harder for dirty diesels to pass - and introduce new failure ratings.
From May 2018 a diesel loophole will be closed and cars will be given defects in three new categories to reveal how dangerous it really is.
Testers will grade problems as dangerous, major or minor - and you'll be warned of the fines you face for not getting faults fixed.
Dangerous and major defects will lead to an automatic fail but a car with just a minor fault may still be handed a pass.
These minor faults will be flagged on the MOT certificate alongside advisory notices.
Diesel particulate filters (DPF) will also now be checked as part of the test - and you'll be failed if you've had it removed or tampered with.
A large number of drivers have their DPFs removed rather than deal with them regularly becoming clogged.
It's illegal and carries a £1,000 fine but until now it was only a visual inspection - the new rules will close the loophole.
The smoke test limit will be slashed, too, with dirty diesels being handed a "major" fail if it doesn't meet standards.
Neil Barlow, head of MoT policy at the DVSA, told : "We’re changing the wording on the certificate. We’ve done a lot of research with motorists to find out what sort of information helps".
New MOT failure categories explained
Defects found during the MOT test shall be categorised in one of the following groups:
- Minor - defects having no significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment and other minor non-compliances. If only defects of a minor nature are present a test certificate will still be issued
- Major - defects that may prejudice the safety of the vehicle, have an impact on the environment, put other road users at risk or other more significant non-compliances
- Dangerous - defects constituting a direct and immediate risk to road safety or having an impact on the environment
The new rules are outlined in a draft MOT guidance document issued to testers by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
It states you'd get a minor for a dodgy windscreen that didn't affect your view, a major if it impacted visibility and it'd be classed as dangerous if vision was "seriously affected".
Oil leaks could be minor but if it's dripping you'll rack up a major.
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While a steering wheel that could become detached would be classed as dangerous.
Other changes include checks to whether brake discs are obviously warn, oil contamination of the discs and how well they are securely attached to the wheel hubs.
all you need to know about diesel
The new rules will kick in from May 20.
We previously reported how the MOT would stay on its current three-year cycle after safety fears.
Ministers had plotted to extend the first test to four years to save Brits money - but they U-turned over worries it'll leave thousands of unsafe motors on the road.