Drivers will no longer be granted a 6-month MOT exemption

It has been announced that mandatory MOT testing will be reintroduced from 1st August 2020, ending the government’s exemption scheme which had been in place as a response to coronavirus.

From 30th March this year, the government granted a 6-month exemption from MOT testing, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to enable people to continue to make essential trips, including frontline workers who still needed to be able to travel to work.

With lockdown restrictions easing, Roads minister Baroness Vere announced on 29th June that after the lifting of certain COVID-19 related restrictions, MOT testing will become mandatory once again from 1st August.

“As people return to our roads, it is vital that motorists are able to keep their vehicles safe,” said Baroness Vere. “That’s why as restrictions are eased, from 1 August MOT testing will again become mandatory. Garages across the country are open and I urge drivers who are due for their MOT to book a test as soon they can.”

For those drivers with vehicles whose MOT due dates were before 1st August, the MOT exemption remains and a new MOT due date of 6 months later than the original will be in place.

However, the government have stressed that all vehicles must still be properly maintained and kept roadworthy, and people are able to voluntarily get their MOT sooner than the new due date if they wish. Over 90% of garages are now open across the country, and testing capacity has already reached 70% of normal levels and is increasing[i]

Drivers who would like a reminder of their MOT due date can sign up for text message reminder on the government website, which will send them a message a month in advance.

[i] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mandatory-mot-testing-to-be-reintroduced-from-1-august

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