Drivers could face new penalties for failing to have a valid MOT, including penalty points and vehicle seizure, under proposals being considered by the Department for Transport. The government is reviewing sanctions for several motoring offences after concerns from police and road safety bodies that current penalties are insufficient.
Proposed Changes to MOT Enforcement
The Department for Transport is evaluating stricter penalties for offences such as driving without a valid MOT, driving without insurance, using cloned number plates, and cases where a vehicle owner cannot be identified. Police would gain powers to issue penalty points and seize vehicles at the roadside for these infringements.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport Lilian Greenwood MP stated that the proposals aim to reduce deaths and serious injuries on UK roads. In 2024, there were 1,602 road deaths and 27,865 serious injuries. Greenwood emphasized that while the UK has some of the safest roads globally, these numbers remain too high, and the government does not accept such casualties as inevitable.
Background of the Consultation
The government recently closed its consultation on the Road Safety Strategy. It is now considering tougher penalties for various offences, including those related to vehicle roadworthiness. The consultation noted concerns from police and road safety groups that some offences lack extra penalties such as points or vehicle seizure.
Offences under review include:
- Failing to have a valid MOT
- Driving without insurance
- Using incorrect or false number plates
- Cases where a vehicle owner cannot be identified
Addressing Legal Loopholes
The government highlighted that criminals exploit legal loopholes to hide vehicle ownership, making it harder for police to enforce laws. Disguising ownership also leads to revenue shortfalls from vehicle excise duty and road charges, burdening law-abiding drivers.
Police already have powers to seize vehicles from uninsured drivers or those driving without a proper licence. The proposed changes would extend these powers to MOT-related offences. For driving without insurance, the government noted inconsistencies in sanctions between fraudulent declarations and actual uninsured driving. Currently, false declarations rarely result in penalty points or disqualification, while uninsured driving carries a fixed penalty of £300 and six points, or an unlimited fine and disqualification in court.
Next Steps
A summary of consultation responses will be published within three months, followed by legislative amendments later this year. The government also consulted on mandatory eye tests for drivers over 70, replacing the current self-declaration system. Drivers over 70 must renew their licence every three years and currently only self-declare fitness to drive. The proposed change would require evidence of a professional eye examination.
The government aims to implement a range of measures to reduce road deaths and injuries, emphasizing that no single solution will suffice, but a combination of actions can achieve progress.
