MOT exemption situation for garages and vehicle owners clarified
THE DVSA announced on the 25th March, that due to the Covid-19 restrictions, motorists who’s cars, motorcycles and vans were due an MOT after the 30th March 2020 would receive a 6 month exemption to ensure vehicles can continue to be used while MOT stations are closed.
However, a number of MOT centres were concerned that this exemption only applied to vehicles with MOT’s due within the next 6 months, which would not only hit garages who rely on MOTs for their workload and revenue now, but at the same time each and every year for the foreseeable future.
Car retailers and vehicle owners can continue to tax and insure all vehicles in the same way they have always done within a vehicle’s 6 month exemption period.
We contacted the DVSA to clarify the exemption details and they have confirmed that all cars and light vehicles requiring an MOT after the 30 March will receive a 6 month exemption. This will apply to ALL MOT’s due in the next 12 months. (30th March 2020 – 29 March 2021).
In effect all vehicles are getting a one-off 18 Month MOT which ensures that MOT stations do not suffer from an annual “hole” in their workload for years to come, impacting their business and creating a potential MOT bottleneck for Britains millions of motorists.
Although this does not help the nations thousands of MOT centres and garages over the coming 6 months, who rely on regular MOTs and the additional safety repair work it generates, this rolling exemption does ensure that moving forward a regular flow of work will return from 1st October 2020.
The DVSA confirmed that the following examples were correct
Vehicle original MOT due 1 April 2020 – New MOT due 1 Oct 2020
Vehicle original MOT due 1 Aug 2020 – New MOT due 1 Feb 2021
Vehicle original MOT due 1 Dec 2020 – New MOT due 1 Jun 2021
Vehicle original MOT due 1 Feb 2021 – New MOT due 1 Aug 2021
However, it remains to be seen how the nations vital service stations will continue to survive until then without the MOT work they so badly need.
Despite the exemption, owners are being strongly advised to ensure their vehicle undergoes an MOT at the earliest possible convenience rather than wait until the end of the exemption period, as drivers will still face prosecution if they’re caught driving unsafe vehicles. It’s also worth noting that a few garages remain open for essential repairs, ensuring that key any essential work can still be completed.