Thousands of older diesel cars could be forced off the roads from next month by a stricter emissions test that forms part of the biggest shakeup to MOTs for 20 years.
From 20 May, people taking their car to a testing station will face a completely new MOT, which motoring experts believe will lead to many more diesel car failures.
The upgraded test is the result of an EU directive imposing tougher vehicle checks and improved emissions testing.
The owners of diesel cars first registered from about 2006 onwards will notice the biggest change in the new test, which should establish that the diesel particulate filter (DPF) in the exhaust is working correctly.
Cars will have their emissions tested by new equipment to the standard issued at the time of manufacture. The vehicle will fail if the DPF has been tampered with, or if it produces “visible smoke of any colour”.
Owners who have deliberately removed particulate filters to improve the car’s performance face a bill of £1,000 or more, or having to scrap the car. Older diesels made before DPFs were built-in will not face the new emissions test.
Dan Powell, from the Honest John website, said the test would force some of the most polluting cars off the road as they would be too uneconomical to repair.
For years, unscrupulous garages and owners have removed or damaged the exhaust filters, despite the subsequent environmental damage and the replacement cost of more than £1,000.
In 2016 the Guardian revealed that 1,188 vehicles had been caught without a DPF, but experts warned the true figure was much higher.
Almost 29,000 people die prematurely each year in the UK owing to particle pollution.
The VW emissions scandal revealed how much diesel cars were polluting despite operating within the official limits.
Oliver Hayes, a Friends of the Earth spokesperson, said the new standards were long overdue, but should go further. “It seems highly likely that some older cars missing filters may still pass the test. Diesel drivers were sold cars totally unsuited to urban environments and it’s essential that the government recognises this fact and offers meaningful cash incentives to help individuals switch to greener alternatives,” he said.
The new MOT could also come as a shock to owners whose vehicles are deemed to be in a “dangerous” condition, who will risk a £2,500 fine and six penalty points if they continue to drive it.
Despite being known about since 2014, the introduction of the new test looks set to be a chaotic affair. The editor of MOT Testing magazine, Jim Punter, says as many as 6,000 of the UK’s 22,000 test centres will not be ready for the new diesel checks due to equipment and software delays.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency said it was working on a solution to the delays to ensure the new MOTs can begin as normal when introduced on 20 May.
