To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) for an update on the work being done to ensure anyone requiring an MOT can get one before their certificate expires; (ii) what are the repercussions in terms of insurance, tax and the car owner’s ability to drive their vehicle if they cannot secure a test prior to the expiry of their MOT certificate; and (iii) what is the advice for someone who cannot secure an MOT test before their certificate expires.

The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) is delivering vehicle testing services at all 15 of its test centres for those vehicles that require an MOT test. While there is sufficient capacity for customers to book a vehicle test appointment, it may not always be possible to book a test at the preferred test centre, and customers may have to travel to an alternative centre to secure a test before their current test pass certificate expires.

The demand for vehicle testing is high due in part to customers, who do not require a test, booking an appointment. To manage capacity, the DVA is continually identifying and cancelling vehicle tests which have been booked by customers even though their vehicle has a current Temporary Exemption Certificate (TEC). Additional vehicle test slots are available daily at most centres and further slots also become available due to cancellations.

Customers are able to change existing appointments to a different test centre and time if a preferred slot becomes available.

In addition, the DVA also offers vehicle test appointments on Sundays and bank holidays, at most test centres. Following conversion of an adjoining building at the Newbuildings test centre, additional testing capacity is now available to meet demand in the north-west.

The DVA has recently extended the period in which MOT reminder letters are issued to six weeks prior to the test due date, with plans to increase this to seven weeks in mid-June to provide customers with earlier notice to book their test.

In light of the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, I recently announced that existing TECs for qualifying vehicles will be extended by a further four months. This applies to private cars, light goods vehicles and motorcycles aged 4-9 years, with TECs which will expire between 26 March 2021 and 25 March 2022. Four year old cars and motorcycles and three year old light goods vehicles due a first time test between the above dates will also have a four month TEC applied. This will help free up test slots for customers that cannot avail of a TEC.

If someone is unable to secure a vehicle test date until after their vehicle test certificate or TEC expires, the legislation permits them to drive the vehicle to a test centre and, if it fails, back to the registered address for the vehicle or a place of repair.

The DVA encourages customers to check the booking system daily as vehicle slots become available at short notice. For those customers who are unable to secure a test date and whose MOT is due to expire within five days or has already expired, they should contact DVA customer services at dva.customerservices@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk and the DVA will seek to secure an urgent appointment for the customer.

Like all public facing services, the Covid-19 restrictions mean that the DVA will continue to adapt its services to ensure that they can be provided safely and they would ask customers for their patience at this difficult time. The DVA will continue to be guided by the latest public health and scientific advice as they work towards the resumption of normal services.