According to new research, the number of uninspected cars on UK roads will hit an all-time high.
many motorists say they can’t afford a MOT, and experts say it could make 400,000 more unsafe vehicles on our roads.
One in six drivers (17%) who have to pass the MOT this month say they already know they won’t be able to pay it, and 71% of them say they will break the law and keep driving anyway.
They risk fines of up to £2,500 and three points on their licence.
Research by Halfords shows that 18-24 year olds are more likely to be unable to pay ITV (22%) and at the same time are more likely to drive their car anyway (84%).
One in six people say they cannot afford to pay the ITV this month
DVSA data shows that the current ITV failure rate is 28.5%.
March is usually the busiest month for ITVs, with at least 115,000 potentially dangerous vehicles on our roads that normally would not have passed the test.
The new research shows how the cost-of-living crisis is forcing many motorists to divert funds elsewhere.
Of those who can’t afford their next MOT, 66% say they simply don’t have enough money and will have to spend the funds elsewhere.
Meanwhile, a quarter of those planning to avoid ITV altogether (23%) said they previously got away without having one.
Nearly half of those who plan to keep driving regardless (47%) say it’s so they can get to work, which doesn’t pay enough to pay for the test.
34% of those surveyed say they need their car to do their job, and 26% say they will take their children to school in a vehicle without a technical inspection.
Halfords CEO Graham Stapleton said: “The data shows that March will be the worst month we have ever seen when it comes to cars on our roads without MOT, according to Solent News and Agency.
“MOTs are vital annual safety checks on vehicles that are three years old or older, it’s not about checking boxes, MOTs check things like there’s enough tread on the tires or the brakes are working properly.
“The fact that so many are able to take their children to school in vehicles without a MOT is a genuine concern.”
An additional 400,000 MOT-free cars could be on UK roads this month
Antony Kildare, chief executive of IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s leading road safety charity, said: ‘Households across the country are forced to reduce everyday expenses to balance the books.
“But with the latest figures showing that 27,450 people have been killed or seriously injured on UK roads, it is extremely worrying to learn that such a large proportion of motorists choose not to have their annual MOT.”
Many believe in the misconception of a 14-day “grace period” after the ITV expires, research shows.
One in three (31%) believe that this is the case, reaching 45% among those between the ages of 18 and 24, although it is illegal to drive a car without an ITV unless you can prove that you are going to a test center.
A valid ITV is required to renew the car tax and insurance, but some motorists say they will still try to find a way around it.
More than half (57%) of those who plan to keep driving despite everything say they will insure and tax their vehicle before the current ITV runs out.
Current regulations allow drivers to renew their car tax two months before it expires and re-insure it up to a month before, giving those who want to avoid their ITV a clear window.
Many seem to be prioritizing their insurance and taxes over ITVs because they are less likely to get caught.
Only 16% of those who plan not to bother with an ITV say they will also avoid paying taxes and car insurance.
Among motorists who would skip the test for their tax or insurance, 50% say it is because they are less likely to get caught, and 36% believe the consequences of skipping the ITV are less severe than those of skipping the tax or insurance.
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