To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether (i) drivers can obtain road tax without a valid MOT; and (ii) drivers can legally drive without road tax.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea is responsible for the registration and licensing (taxing) of motor vehicles used on UK roads. Vehicles are licensed in compliance with the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. The Act does not provide for the licensing of a motor vehicle in the absence of a required statutory vehicle test certificate (MOT).

In general, vehicles must be licensed for use on UK roads. However, Schedule 2 of the Act provides for the use of an unlicensed vehicle (not having an MOT certificate) where it is being driven to and from a pre-arranged MOT test, and subsequently to and from a place of repair.

If a customer has been advised by their insurer that they will not be covered if their vehicle does not have a valid MOT certificate, or they require an MOT to tax their vehicle they should:

book the earliest available appointment;

keep checking the booking system for an appointment before their MOT expires

If they get to within five days of their MOT expiry date, they should contact dva.customerservices@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk and DVA will do their best to get an urgent appointment. To date, all customers who have contacted the DVA in these circumstances, have been offered an earlier appointment slot.

Like all public facing services, the Covid-19 restrictions mean that the DVA has had to adapt its services to ensure that they can be provided safely and it would ask customers for their patience at this difficult time.