Two ways the MOT could change in the future

With so much activity around the MOT, including the recent consultation and the release of the DVSA's strategic plan setting out some possible changes and areas of focus, the test could see a lot of changes in the future. Here are two ways the MOT could look very different…

ANPR cameras

The first possible change is the use of ANPR cameras, which are currently being trialled in a few workshops. If the trials are successful and the project is rolled out, the idea will be that a Tester will take a picture of the car on their phone or tablet, and the system will pick it up, check the details, and fill in the details, leaving the tester to just check for any discrepancies, such as two chassis numbers on the car.

The idea behind this system is to cut down on mistakes that can happen when data for a vehicle is entered incorrectly. The process of collecting data on a piece of paper and then walking to an office to enter it onto a computer seems simple, but it's so easy to make a mistake. This isn’t helped by manufacturers not always putting the VIN plate in an easily accessible place. Trying to write a VIN down with a clipboard in one hand, a torch in the other, and a boot liner balanced on your head, with the customer's every possession balanced on that boot liner, is not the most efficient way to collect important vehicle identification data. That VIN will still need checking, but not having to write while balancing stuff on your head might make life a little easier.

So why is it such an issue to have the odd error? Because when an error is corrected, a new record is created for the vehicle that just goes off on its merry way to some far part of the database, just waiting to poke its head up when an MOT history check is done, or somebody goes to tax the vehicle, which can cause all sorts of system errors. So far, the reports are that this system works well, and the Testers who have been trialling it have got on well with the system. It would take us one step closer to the linked system that has been slowly rolling out for some years now too.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

Another change is the inclusion of ADAS systems in the MOT. Firstly, the MOT test criteria for tyres would need to be updated. Tyres give early warning signs of improper alignment, there could be more emphasis on types of tyre wear that would flag up the need for immediate maintenance. A lot of ADAS systems have no way of knowing if the vehicle is aligned correctly but can rely on alignment to work.

As the IMI has recently shown with its research into MOT failures, tyres are a high failure point and are likely to get worse as cars get heavier. There is also the cost of completing an ADAS check as part of the MOT. Taking out the cost of the equipment for now, if the test fee stays the same, customers are not going to pay the cost of an ADAS check when they can just have the MOT done for half the price. This isn’t going to help MOT test stations or garages that rely on ADAS as a service.

It's not clear what changes are coming for the MOT test as the consultation results are still under review by the DVSA. But there will definitely be changes in the very near future.

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