MoT rules to change during coronavirus outbreak

Motorists could be given a six-month exemption from MOT testing due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

The government is in urgent talks to make all cars, vans and motorcycles exempt from needing a test from next Monday (30th March).

This will allow people to carry on with essential travel during the pandemic.

However, drivers are being warned that vehicles must be kept in a roadworthy condition and garages will remain open for essential repair work.

There’s separate guidance about what to do if your MOT due date is up to and including 29 March 2020 and there are different temporary rules for MOT tests for lorries, buses and trailers.

Under the new guidelines:

• You will not need to do anything to extend your vehicle’s MOT expiry date if it’s on or after 30 March 2020. However, you must keep your vehicle safe to drive. Your vehicle will be automatically given a 6-month MOT exemption. This will extend your current MOT expiry date by 6 months.

• You can check your MOT history to see when you have been issued an exemption. It will not be updated straight away, so keep checking back if your new due date MOT is not yet showing.

• You will not get a paper exemption certificate.

• If your vehicle tax is due, you can tax your vehicle as soon as your MOT due date has been updated.

• If your vehicle’s first MOT is due, your vehicle will be automatically given a 6-month MOT exemption from the date its first MOT was due.

• If your first MOT was due before 30 March 2020 and your vehicle did not pass, your vehicle will not get an extension to its MOT due date.

• The government is allowing MOT centres and garages to remain open. So you can still get an MOT if you need your vehicle for essential travel.

You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get 3 penalty points for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition, so you should still take your vehicle to be repaired at the nearest open garage.