COVID-19 & Driving

As the UK adapts to help the stop the spread of Covid-19. Measures have been put in place by the government which has led to confusion for many motorists.

It was announced in March 2020 drivers who have an MOT due between 30th March 2020 & 30th March 2021 will be granted a six-month extension because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Does this apply to my vehicle?

• According to the government website, if you own a car, motorcycle, light van or other light vehicle, your MOT certificate will be extended by 6 months.
• This also includes these types of vehicles that are due their first ever MOT test cars registered in 2017.

Example:

• Your 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 new due date. However it is strongly advised that if you are using your car you should not abuse the 6 month extension and get it MOT’d at the earliest opportunity.

Will this extension be taken away at any point?
As this is a temporary measure the government are keeping this under constant review and may stop extending MOT expiry dates once safe to do so.

How do I check if my MOT has been extended?
You can check your mot expiry date by visiting the government website – Click here.
Your vehicle’s MOT expiry date will only be updated three days before your MOT was originally due to expire before.
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.

Does this affect my tax and insurance?

• 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 in April 2020.
• Your insurance will still be valid.

You must keep your vehicle safe to drive

• It has always been the case but even more so with the MOT extension you must keep your vehicle safe to drive and in a roadworthy condition.

I’ve been granted the 6-month extension but want to book my MOT test early – Can I do that?

• Yes, and we are encouraging you to do so!
• You can choose to get your MOT done at any point. The earlier the better. The automotive industry is anticipating from September on wards that there will be a shortage of MOT testing facilities available due to the MOT extension. This will be because effectively double the amount of vehicles will be required to have their MOT done at the same time. We are urging our customers to avoid the rush and inconvenience of not being able to drive your car as the MOT will have expired.
• The Government have confirmed that MOT centres can continue to operate throughout the outbreak.

What do the government mean by keep my vehicle safe to drive?

• Anybody who drives a vehicle on a public road must be aware, it must be roadworthy. The rules regarding this, which can be found in The Highway Code will remain in place during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• During this time, it’s essential to monitor the condition of your car, van or motorbike, undertaking essential checks on the tyres, bulbs, wipers, batteries and more to ensure that it’s roadworthy.
• We understand that for some it can be daunting, that’s why we offer FREE vehicle health checks, including Battery, brakes & tyre checks, essential fluid levels and more. You can book this by calling our team on 01543 27 60 60 or sending us a message via the website or our Facebook page.

Driving an unsafe vehicle is an offence that could see you fined up to £2500 and receive penalty points on your licence. More information can be found here