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MOT centre and tester guidance

Posted on 28/05/2020

Taken from GOV.UK 28th May 2020:

Rules on opening

You’re still allowed to open your garage or MOT centre and carry out MOT tests.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has published guidance for vehicle owners that says:

Your MOT centre can stay open after 30 March 2020 to carry out MOTs if you need to. This could include retests or tests of a vehicle that had an MOT due before 30 March.

Garages can also stay open to carry out repairs or services as well.

Viewing areas

You can close viewing areas if you want to.

MOT certificates

Do not print MOT certificates unless the customer needs it for a specific reason. Tell customers they can download and print the certificate when they get home and check their MOT history.

MOT expiry dates are being extended by 6 months to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Eligibility

Your MOT certificate will be extended by 6 months if it was due to expire on or after 30 March 2020 and your vehicle is a:

First MOT due

The extension also applies to these types of vehicles that are due their first MOT test on or after 30 March 2020.

There are different rules if your MOT expiry date was on or before 29 March 2020.

How the 6-month extension works

Your vehicle’s MOT expiry date will be automatically extended by 6 months if it’s eligible. This will be done about 7 days before it’s due to expire.

This means that:

  • your vehicle will still have a valid MOT certificate for an extra 6 months
  • you can still tax your vehicle – you might need to wait to do this until later in the month if both your MOT and vehicle tax run out this month
  • your insurance will still be valid
  • your vehicle’s record will be updated so the police can see you have a valid MOT

You will not get a new paper MOT certificate with the new expiry date on it.

You must still keep your vehicle safe to drive.

ExampleYour vehicle’s MOT was due to expire on 3 May 2020.

This will automatically be extended to 3 November 2020. You will need to get your MOT by this date.

What you need to do

Your vehicle’s MOT expiry date will be updated about 7 days before it was originally due to expire.

  1. Three days before your MOT was originally due to expire, check the expiry date has been extended.
  2. If the expiry date has not been extended 3 days before it was due to expire, email covid19mot@dvsa.gov.uk.

You need to include these details in the email:

  • the date your MOT expired
  • your vehicle registration number (number plate)

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will then:

  • update your vehicle’s record
  • email you to tell you this has been done

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