NEWS

The Government has decided against plans to reduce the frequency of the MoT test amid a huge weight of opposition from the motor industry and road safety groups.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said in a written statement: "Maintaining vehicle road worthiness and servicing is one of the most important costs of running a car for most motorists.

"Having listened closely to the very many views put forward and considered the available evidence, I have decided that I am not going to carry out further work in relation to relaxing the first test date or the frequency of testing."

Under consideration was a proposal to replace the current MOT, which is carried out when a car or light van is three years old and then annually, with a test carried out when a vehicle reaches four years old and then every other year.