Businesses only have today to voice their opinions on the MoT test and whether there should be a reduction in testing.

In the UK, vehicles must have their first test within three years of registration, and annual tests thereafter.

As a minimum, EU law requires vehicles to have their first test when they are four years old and subsequent tests every two years. 

Most European countries follow the EU minimum requirement and there is pressure on the UK to do the same.

The survey can be found at the below link: http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ipm/forms/dispatch?form=roadworthiness

The Retail Motor Industry believes there are in the region of 100,000 jobs in the UK in front line testing alone. 

Peter Harris, Peter James Motor Group managing director, said: “The main problem is with safety. We see a lot of people that need tyres and brakes replacing when they come in for their MoT and that’s often the cause of failure.

“If the MoT period gets extended customers will just put off replacement of those items even longer, they won’t proactively get them sorted. That’s going to lead to a lot of unsafe cars on the road.

“Businesses will lose out on MoTs but they will also lose out on servicing too. I think we’ll see people putting off their servicing until the MoT is due.”

Mike Owen, head of the IAAF-G, said: “I cannot believe they’re even thinking about it. I hope it’s nothing more than a discussion document and I hope they come to their senses and this idea just peters out.”