ECP backs MOT recall tests
Euro Car Parts has supported industry calls to make outstanding recalls a part of the annual MOT test, claiming independent repairers have ‘an enormous role to play’ in improving driver safety.
This comes after the DVSA announced it is looking to work closely with the Department for Transport to align the MOT with recall data to improve road safety. The process would lead to a more stringent MOT test, allowing technicians to check whether a vehicle has been through an important safety recall before issuing a certificate.
Andy Hamilton, Euro Car Parts’ CEO, said, ‘Vehicle recalls are not uncommon from manufacturers but there is currently no legal requirement for motorists to have dangerous faults fixed. As a result, recalled vehicles often end up in the independent aftermarket, sometimes with their owner unaware that their vehicle has even had a major problem.
‘Independent repairers can play a major role in improving driver safety by notifying drivers of outstanding recalls when they send their car off for the annual MOT and providing work required to fix manufacturer issues. By aligning DVSA data with Government systems, the independent aftermarket can deliver even greater service to customers, going the extra mile to keep our roads safe.”
Although the DVSA launched an online checking system for vehicle recalls in February 2018, it is not part of any official service or vehicle check and the organisation estimates one in 13 cars in the UK is subject to an outstanding recall. Current intentions are for DVSA and government systems to become more aligned, giving consumers a fair period after a recall is issued before an MOT failure, to get faults repaired.
