Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles which passed their MOT in (a) 2022-2023, (b) 2023-2024 and (c) 2024-2025 were assessed for exhaust noise as per section 8.1.1. of the MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles.

It is a mandatory requirement for all MOT centres in England to assess for exhaust noise when conducting an MOT.

During the emissions test the tester is required to use their judgement to assess the exhaust noise, either as part of the emissions test or by raising the engine speed to around 2,500rpm or half the maximum engine speed.

The numbers below show how many active MOT testing stations there are in England, who have carried out MOTs. This would include being assessed for exhaust noise.

• 2022 to 2023 there were 22,701 active MOT testing stations testing car, private bus and light commercial vehicles (classes 3,4,5 and 7);
• 2023 to 2024 there were 22,526 active MOT testing stations for classes 3,4,5 and 7 and;
• 2024 to 2025 there were 22,448 active MOT testing stations for classes 3,4,5 and 7 vehicles.

The numbers below show how many vehicles passed their MOT in (a) 2022-2023 (b) 2023-2024 and (c) 2024-2025. This would include being assessed for exhaust noise.

• 2022 to 2023 there were 30,843,492 normal tests carried out for classes 4, 5 and 7;
• 2023 to 2024 there were 31,084,949 normal tests carried out for classes 4, 5 and 7 and;
• 2024 to 2025 there were 31,615,467 normal tests carried out for classes 4, 5 and 7 vehicles.