Disorganised drivers sent MOT reminders by text

The DVSA has come up with an easy way to make sure people take their car in for an annual check-up

DRIVERS will for the first time be able to receive a text from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to remind them when their car is due for its MOT.

The new messaging service was established after figures showed that more than a quarter of Britain’s cars are overdue vital road safety checks.

Some 28 per cent of vehicles are late for their MOT check while two-thirds of those are at least a week behind schedule, the DVSA found.

As a result, the agency has launched a free “Get MOT Reminders” message service enabling drivers to receive a text message or email four weeks before their car’s MOT is due, this gives them enough time to book their car in for a test.

Motorists can be fined up to £1,000 if they are caught driving a car without a valid MOT certificate. The test costs a maximum of £54.85.

Baroness Sugg, the Minister for Transport, accepted that booking an MOT is something that is “easy to overlook” but insisted they play an important role in “making sure that the vehicles on our roads are safe and are meeting high environmental standards”.

She added: “Getting a text or email will serve as a useful prompt to make sure people get their vehicle checked in time.”

New vehicles must undergo the test on the third anniversary of its registration and every 12 months if they are over three years old. A number of parts are checked during MOTS to ensure that they meet safety standards, such as lights, seat belts, tyres and brakes.

Twenty-eight people were killed and 413 were seriously injured in accidents on Britain’s roads last year when a vehicle defect was a contributory factor.

Gareth Llewellyn, DVSA chief executive, urged motorists to “check your vehicle all year round” to avoid its condition causing a crash.

Stuart James, director of automotive trade body the Retail Motor Industry Federation, said: “The number of consumers forgetting to MOT their vehicles means that a great many of these are unintentionally breaking the law.

“We are pleased that the DVSA has developed such a valuable service that will support road safety and help consumers in their busy lives.”

‘The number of consumers forgetting to MOT their vehicle means that a great many are breaking the law’