The government has concluded that lessening the frequency of MoTs would have a significant effect on road safety and has abandoned plans for a change to the system.

It removes the spectre of MoT tests changing to a four-year cycle, then every two thereafter, which could have had a major impact on garages’ incomes.

Speaking following the publication of a Department for Transport study, which also added that the change could have a detrimental effect on vehicle efficiency, bringing no cost benefit to consumers, Secretary of State for Transport Geoff Hoon said: “Our analysis suggests that a significant number of additional road traffic accidents would be likely with reduced test frequency.

This is primarily because the annual MoT failure rate is already high (around 35%) and, if we were to reduce test frequency, there is a very real risk that the number of unroadworthy cars would increase significantly.

“Clearly, any significant increase in road traffic accidents or in the number of road casualties would be a wholly unacceptable outcome and, for that reason, our view is that the MoT test as it stands is providing valuable overall benefits in a cost-effective manner.”

The RMIF welcomed the news. Stephen Coles, head of MoT operations, added: “It’s a clear indication that the concerns of the MoT sector have been heeded.

“Because of the reduced frequency of testing, 4-2-2 would have had a negative impact on consumer choice and road safety, as well as the 19,200 businesses in the UK that operate an MoT testing station. This should also end the long-standing uncertainty felt by the MoT sector.”