MoT and what to do for now
Posted: March 30th, 2020, 2:02 pm
Latest from DVSA here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus ... march-2020
Please make sure you follow any relevant links highlighted in the web page.
For the time being most garages and MoT stations are staying open (subject to the business itself wanting to stay open/virus restrictions). You will find that some main dealers are closed completely and some only have the workshop and/or MoT bay open (car sales is a closed non-essential business). Most smaller car repair garages and MoT stations look like they are staying open for now (we certainly are).
My MoT is due, must I get one?
Due on or before 29th March and you are now late then yes, you must get an MoT in the normal manner.
Due 30th March or after then you will get an automatic 6 month extension applied in due course by DVSA. This may change in the near future, so keep your eyes open for further news as and when DVSA update everyone. Keep an eye on your MoT status on the DVSA MoT checker here:
https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-status
If your vehicle hasn't been updated and you are now due then get tested in the normal manner. It will take DVSA a while to update every vehicle, and it looks like they are doing it on either a daily or weekly basis.
I have a 6 month extension, can I get an MoT anyway?
Yes. There is no restriction to applying for a test earlier than the due date, whether that be the original due date or the new extended date. This has always been the case - eg: some councils require Taxis to get an MoT every 6 months. Indeed, there is nothing in law or the MoT system which prevents you from having an MoT done every day of the year should you so desire!
Does this mean my car is safe to drive?
Not necessarily. The law still applies to driving a defective vehicle, whether knowingly or otherwise - you could face 3 points and a £2500 quid fine for driving a defective vehicle even though you have got a 6 month extension on your MoT. Having a valid MoT, be it under the normal scheme or the new extended ticket, does not mean a vehicle is safe to drive. If you have any doubts then book in to a garage in the normal way, just as before.
What happens when my extension expires?
At present the rule is you will need to get tested in the usual manner.
If i get a test in the near future will I get an automatic 6 month extension?
No. Any test carried out for the foreseeable future will still be subject to the standard 12 months ticket, there is no automatic extension for new tests.
The world is cured, what then?
Ah, now we get to the sticky situations building up for the future. The old MoT system (ie: what we are currently used to) will return, but what I foresee is cheap MoT prices disappearing - no more 20 quid deals with a service, everyone will most likely start charging full whack of £54.80. This is because every day we are under the 6 month extension doubles up the number of daily tests due in the future. The industry is already short of 6000 MoT testers and there simply isn't the spare capacity to test increased numbers of vehicles. This will mean garages opening earlier and closing later to fit in as many tests as they can. Some garages will go under in the meantime, thus reducing the future capacity. Simple supply and demand dictates an increase in basic MoT prices, along with labour rates and parts prices.
We also need to factor in the testers themselves. If we don't test for 6 months then we lose our licence, have to do our annual training and wait for the DVSA staff to come out and do a demonstration test with us. Annual training is currently suspended. DVSA are short of staff. Demo tests currently have a 6 week wait time. It could be that a tester now getting laid off could find themselves in a situation where it is a full year before they can test again. Those of us who keep testing will still have to do our annual training, and the courses were fully booked 6 months in advance already, so when they become available again they won't be able to keep up with demand, leading to even more testers losing their licences. And so the merry-go-round continues.
This is of course all conjecture on my part, but if it happens don't say I didn't warn you!
Best course of action?
IMHO get your MoT done in the usual manner, on or around the normal due date,the same as before. Just make sure you take the proper precautions for non-transmission of bugs and follow gubmint guidance on social separation etc. If nothing else at least you then know your vehicle is safe to drive and you are helping to keep an industry going in these troubled times.
MoTMork
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus ... march-2020
Please make sure you follow any relevant links highlighted in the web page.
For the time being most garages and MoT stations are staying open (subject to the business itself wanting to stay open/virus restrictions). You will find that some main dealers are closed completely and some only have the workshop and/or MoT bay open (car sales is a closed non-essential business). Most smaller car repair garages and MoT stations look like they are staying open for now (we certainly are).
My MoT is due, must I get one?
Due on or before 29th March and you are now late then yes, you must get an MoT in the normal manner.
Due 30th March or after then you will get an automatic 6 month extension applied in due course by DVSA. This may change in the near future, so keep your eyes open for further news as and when DVSA update everyone. Keep an eye on your MoT status on the DVSA MoT checker here:
https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-status
If your vehicle hasn't been updated and you are now due then get tested in the normal manner. It will take DVSA a while to update every vehicle, and it looks like they are doing it on either a daily or weekly basis.
I have a 6 month extension, can I get an MoT anyway?
Yes. There is no restriction to applying for a test earlier than the due date, whether that be the original due date or the new extended date. This has always been the case - eg: some councils require Taxis to get an MoT every 6 months. Indeed, there is nothing in law or the MoT system which prevents you from having an MoT done every day of the year should you so desire!
Does this mean my car is safe to drive?
Not necessarily. The law still applies to driving a defective vehicle, whether knowingly or otherwise - you could face 3 points and a £2500 quid fine for driving a defective vehicle even though you have got a 6 month extension on your MoT. Having a valid MoT, be it under the normal scheme or the new extended ticket, does not mean a vehicle is safe to drive. If you have any doubts then book in to a garage in the normal way, just as before.
What happens when my extension expires?
At present the rule is you will need to get tested in the usual manner.
If i get a test in the near future will I get an automatic 6 month extension?
No. Any test carried out for the foreseeable future will still be subject to the standard 12 months ticket, there is no automatic extension for new tests.
The world is cured, what then?
Ah, now we get to the sticky situations building up for the future. The old MoT system (ie: what we are currently used to) will return, but what I foresee is cheap MoT prices disappearing - no more 20 quid deals with a service, everyone will most likely start charging full whack of £54.80. This is because every day we are under the 6 month extension doubles up the number of daily tests due in the future. The industry is already short of 6000 MoT testers and there simply isn't the spare capacity to test increased numbers of vehicles. This will mean garages opening earlier and closing later to fit in as many tests as they can. Some garages will go under in the meantime, thus reducing the future capacity. Simple supply and demand dictates an increase in basic MoT prices, along with labour rates and parts prices.
We also need to factor in the testers themselves. If we don't test for 6 months then we lose our licence, have to do our annual training and wait for the DVSA staff to come out and do a demonstration test with us. Annual training is currently suspended. DVSA are short of staff. Demo tests currently have a 6 week wait time. It could be that a tester now getting laid off could find themselves in a situation where it is a full year before they can test again. Those of us who keep testing will still have to do our annual training, and the courses were fully booked 6 months in advance already, so when they become available again they won't be able to keep up with demand, leading to even more testers losing their licences. And so the merry-go-round continues.
This is of course all conjecture on my part, but if it happens don't say I didn't warn you!
Best course of action?
IMHO get your MoT done in the usual manner, on or around the normal due date,the same as before. Just make sure you take the proper precautions for non-transmission of bugs and follow gubmint guidance on social separation etc. If nothing else at least you then know your vehicle is safe to drive and you are helping to keep an industry going in these troubled times.
MoTMork