To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) for his assessment of whether the time and effort required to obtain a convenient and timely MOT appointment, represents an acceptable value for money service; (ii) to outline the steps he will take to (a) improve; and (b) expedite the MOT booking and testing process; and (iii) what consideration he has given to (a) temporarily extending the MOT exemption period for new cars; (b) establishing a separate, expedited process for car dealerships; and (c) creating a specific position or think-tank for resolving this issue.

In 2022-2023, the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) conducted over 1.15 million vehicle tests which is the highest number ever recorded in a year. This increase in capacity has been achieved by adopting a range of measures including the recruitment of additional vehicle examiners, the most recent recruitment competition launched on 19 February 2024 to fill staff vacancies across the DVA’s network of test centres. The DVA also uses overtime to provide cover for leave and they offer vehicle test appointments on Sundays and bank holidays, when testing is not normally available. Disappointingly, the number of vehicles that failed to attend a booked appointment in 2022-2023 was also the highest on record at 50,772.

Whilst demand for vehicle testing services remains high, the DVA has taken a number of steps to improve the customer experience. For example, in September 2021 the DVA implemented a new online booking system to replace the previous booking system, which was 20 years old. The new system has simplified the MOT and driving test application process through the introduction of easy-to-use screens for customers, with clear guidance on how to complete the booking process.

The DVA appreciates that, in some cases, customers may not be able to have their vehicles tested before their current MOT certificate expires and has taken steps to ensure that motorists are still able to use their vehicles when they are unable to secure an MOT appointment before their current MOT expires. The latest information on MOTs is available on NI Direct at A guide to booking your MOT/ vehicle test | nidirect and is also included as an advice note with every MOT reminder letter issued to customers.

Vehicle test appointments are released on a daily basis, when resources become available, so customers are encouraged to regularly check the booking system as they may be able to change their existing appointment to a different test centre and time if a slot becomes available. Information on how a customer can change, cancel or view their MOT appointment online is available on NI Direct at Change, cancel or view your MOT/ vehicle test appointment online | nidirect

To further increase vehicle testing capacity, the DVA is investing in new test centres. The construction of a new test centre at Hydebank, in Belfast, is nearing completion and will open later this year. The construction contract for a second new test centre at Mallusk has also been awarded and this new test centre is expected to open in 2025. Once fully operational, these two new centres will provide the capacity to test over 200,000 additional vehicles per annum, which will help the DVA meet the future demand for this service.

The circumstances that provided for the issue of Temporary Exemption Certificates (TECs) have significantly changed, along with the return of normal testing services following the pandemic. It is, therefore, important from a road safety perspective, that all vehicles are tested at the earliest opportunity. As such, there are no plans to issue further TECs at this time.

Local test centre management teams liaise closely with stakeholder dealerships to assist them with urgent appointments. If there is a particular dealership experiencing difficulty please forward their details to Pat Delaney, DVA’s Director of Operations, at pat.delaney@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk who will contact them directly. In addition, the DVA met with representatives from the National Franchised Dealers Association on 21 February, where a number of options were discussed to help ease the strain on dealerships obtaining appointments.