IGA OPPOSES BIENNIAL MOT TESTING IN NORTHERN IRELAND

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has formally submitted its response to the Department of Infrastructure's (DfI) 2025 consultation regarding the proposed introduction of biennial MOT testing (4-2-2) in Northern Ireland.

The IGA strongly opposes the changes, citing serious concerns over road safety, environmental impact, and the adequacy of vehicle inspections under the new system.

The consultation proposes moving to a two-year cycle, which the IGA argues could lead to a significant increase in unroadworthy and unsafe vehicles remaining in use.

Jonathan Douglass, Director of the IGA, said: “Reducing the frequency of MOT testing is not just a policy decision, it’s a public safety risk. Data clearly shows that tens of thousands of vehicles would avoid essential inspections each year under the proposed system. That includes high-mileage company vehicles and electric cars, which are typically failing their first MOTs at a higher rate. A biennial MOT system would fail to catch these safety-critical issues in time, putting lives at risk and undermining environmental goals.”

The IGA response highlights the following key concerns:

• Over 56,000 vehicles that would have failed an annual MOT may remain on the road under the proposed system.
• Biennial testing could significantly delay the identification and repair of emissions system faults, conflicting with the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.
• Countries using biennial testing have shown higher rates of dangerous defects and fatalities.
• Advances in vehicle technology, including complex safety systems in EVs and hybrids, require diligent attention and proactive governance.

Douglass concludes, “The IGA urges the DVA to uphold Northern Ireland’s strong road safety record and environmental commitments by rejecting the proposed move to biennial testing. "A reduction in MOT frequency risks undermining decades of progress in keeping unsafe and environmentally harmful vehicles off the road."

The IGA is calling for the DVA to prioritise public safety and environmental responsibility by maintaining the current MOT testing regime.