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As someone who has been in the motor trade and obviously seen many vehicles of all types in that time, I have to say those which shouldn't be on the road are few and far between. It is also a fallacy that MOT testing ensures a vehicle is fit to be on the road. All it ensures is that at time of testing, certain parameters met approval.
As a example, many years ago I bought a UK registered Ford Cortina Mk3 for its engine. The front of the car was so rotten with rust I was able to pull it off by hand to access the engine. That car still had six months valid MOT.
It seems to me there are two factors behind Kevin's proposal.
1, the motor traders are looking for more work by testing cars on a regular basis and, no doubt, charging customers to fix problems (some of which won't actually need fixing).
2, the concern Europe may try to be awkward following Brexit. Awkward because they don't ask for an MOT now, so what's changed? And it's reciprocal anyway.
In conclusion, as we don't have a problem with unfit vehicles in Jersey over and above what MOT testing would provide, it would seem logical, should this Brexit fear be justified, to make MOT testing optional - Ie those people with cars over three or four years old who wish to take them to Europe could get them tested, in the same way they'll apparently need to get an international driving licence. That way, only a few hundred cars at most would need to be tested, saving the administration and other costs to both motorists and the state.
Regards,
Gerard Baudains