A million ‘unroadworthy’ cars to return to UK streets

More than a million unroadworthy cars could return to UK roads as lockdown begins to ease, according to new research carried out by Kwik Fit.

By studying its own data as well as the latest DVSA MOT data, is has found that an estimated 1,096,000 vehicles which have received a six-month MOT extension would have failed a test with dangerous or major defects had they undergone an MOT.

Of these unroadworthy vehicles, it is estimated that some 316,000 would have dangerous defects, while the remaining 780,000 vehicles would fail with major defects.

Since 30 March vehicles have been provided with an automatic six-month extension to their MOT expiry date, in response to the need to reduce traffic during the lockdown. As a result, only around 24% of the vehicles that were originally due a test in that period have been tested. Meanwhile, Kwik Fit has found that 49% of drivers who have received, or are due to receive, an MOT extension will go to the end of that period without getting their car tested.

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “The extension has been very helpful to drivers during the lockdown, but as Covid-19 prevention measures begin to ease we urge the government to remove the automatic extension in order to prevent dangerous and illegal cars taking to the roads unchecked.

“Our research found that the most common reason people were giving for going to the end of the extension without a test was that they ‘knew their car was safe’. Unfortunately, our experience shows that many people who think their car is safe are actually driving a vehicle with dangerous or major defects – the physical MOT test is a vital way to help ensure the safety of those drivers, and the other road users around them.”