To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for her assessment of the validity of drivers' tax and insurance if their MOT certificate expires prior to securing a new test.

DVA officials have consulted with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) to make them aware of the current position regarding MOT appointments. If motorists are unable to book an MOT appointment before their MOT expiry date but still need to use their vehicle the PSNI has agreed not to penalise the driver of a vehicle whose MOT has expired so long as the vehicle is in a roadworthy and safe condition; the vehicle is properly insured; and the driver can provide proof (by showing an MOT appointment notification, either in electronic or paper form) that a test appointment has been booked for the vehicle.

The ABI view is that not having a valid MOT certificate would not necessarily invalidate insurance but customers, who find themselves in that situation due to delays in getting their vehicle tested, should check their policy documents or speak to their insurer. However, the ABI confirmed that it is a condition of insurance that owners maintain their vehicles in a roadworthy condition.

DVA customers must therefore book a vehicle test appointment as soon as possible, even if it is after their current MOT expiry date. All other offences relating to vehicle roadworthiness and insurance will be dealt with by the PSNI and DVA enforcement officers in the usual manner. 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, contact dva.customerservices@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk and the 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 they would ask customers for their patience at this difficult time.