PLANS to change the way MOT checks on vehicles are carried out have been scrapped.

The Government previously announced plans to reduce the frequency of MOT tests two every two years for vehicles under four years old.

Currently, vehicles do not require an MOT until they are three years old, then annually thereafter.

But they have now announced there will be no change to the required MOT tests after a public consultation.

However, the Government said it would continue to work on longer-term reforms for MOTs – including for electric and automated vehicles – as well as looking at how emissions are measured.

Roads Minister, Guy Opperman, said: “We have listened to drivers and industry, and keeping MOTs in their current form shows once again that we are on the side of motorists.

“By offering clarity on MOT tests, alongside our recent street works consultation and unprecedented £8.3 billion to resurface roads, we are helping motorists drive with peace of mind and ensuring Britain’s roads continue to be some of the safest in the world.”

The government will work with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on how to better monitor diesel vehicle emissions to establish if the MOT can do more to ensure diesel vehicles comply with emissions regulations.

Neil Barlow, head of vehicle policy at DVSA, said: “Ensuring the MOT remains fit for the future is a key part of DVSA’s work and getting ready for new technology will help keep Britain’s roads safe.

“We hope this positive news will provide some certainty for garages to enable the investment in new technologies that could be needed to keep the MOT at the forefront of road safety and the environment.”

The Department for Transport (DfT) will also monitor technological advancements that could impact MOTs.

Jakob Pfaudler, AA CEO, said: “AA polling showed drivers overwhelmingly (83%) supported the annual MOT for keeping their cars and other cars safe.

“With one in 10 cars failing their first MOT, we fully support the government’s pragmatic decision to maintain the first MOT at three years and annually thereafter.”

After the announcement, RAC head of policy, Simon Williams, said: “It’s great news the madcap idea of changing the MOT from every year to every two has finally been consigned to the bin.

“This would have seriously compromised road safety and ended up costing drivers more money rather than less as it was supposed to do, due to dangerous issues going undetected and getting progressively worse.

“This is why the idea was so widely unpopular with the motoring public in our research.

“We look forward to hearing more from the Government on how the MOT will evolve in the future, both to accommodate the rising number of electric cars on our roads and improve the monitoring of dangerous emissions from combustion engines.

“We would also like to see the test change to help reduce the prospect of glare from headlights, as this is something the DVSA has previously said garages can find difficult to assess.”