THE compulsory car testing scheme will be similar to the annual MOT (Ministry of Transport) test which has operated in Northern Ireland and Britain since the early 1960s. The test is compulsory for cars more than four years old in the North and three years old in Britain.
There are 15 testing centres in Northern Ireland run by the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency, which comes under the Department of the Environment. Cars are tested by appointment only and the cost is £17.50. A second test costs £10.
In Britain, testing is done at 18,000 garages licensed by the Vehicle Inspectorate to carry out MOT inspections. The test centres are inspected at least once a year by the inspectorate, which comes under the Department of Transport. The test is done on a drive in basis and costs a maximum of £28.66. The cost of a second test is at the discretion of the station operators and can be free.
In the North and in Britain, about one in five fails the test. The top three reasons for failure in Northern Ireland are faulty steering, brakes and tyres. In Britain they are faulty lights, steering and brakes. More than 20 million vehicles are tested annually in Britain and more than 250,000 in Northern Ireland.