Changes to the current MOT testing requirements for vans could be introduced over the next few years, following the announcement by the government of a review of all vehicle testing requirements.

One of the government’s main concerns is that low-mileage, well-maintained cars are tested too often, while high-mileage vans are tested too little, relative to the mileage they cover.

The current rules require all Class 4 and Class 7 (vans between 3t and 3.5t) vehicles to be tested annually after they reach three years old. However, high-mileage vans can have annual mileages in excess of 50,000 miles; such a van will have covered more than 150,000 miles by the time its first MOT test comes round. Until that time, there are no rules in place to ensure that such vehicles are monitored for safety issues.

I don’t believe there are inherent safety risks in high mileage vans, as long as they are properly maintained. However, it’s clear that many vans are not being properly maintained – unpublished DVLA figures obtained by Fleet News show that the first-time MOT failure rate for Class 7 vans (vans with a gross weight of between 3,000kg and 3,500kg)  reached 50% in the 2009/10 financial year*. This does seem to suggest that some van operators are not taking enough care with maintenance.

The obvious solution to this problem would be to introduce annual MOT testing from new for Class 7 vehicles. This would be in line with the regulations for lorries, buses and coaches. Whether this would help reduce accident numbers – the ultimate goal of MOT testing – is another question.

*Source – Fleet News