With rumours circulating that the UK Government will announce an end to the MOT extension this week – possibly beginning from 1st June, new research has shown that nearly 750,000 tests were conducted in April.
An FOI request made by car selling comparison website Motorway.co.uk to the DVSA revealed that 746,157 MOTs took place across the UK in April, despite drivers whose annual checks were due in that month having until October to book their vehicle in.
The number of tests were down 80% on the previous month – with 3,723,524 motorists taking their vehicles in for an MOT in March. Just over 3.5 million MOTs were carried out in April 2019.
Perth in Central Scotland saw the biggest drop in MOTs last month, with tests down 85.7% compared to March. Inverness saw 85.6% fewer MOTs in April vs March.
More than 20,000 motorists in the Birmingham area (21,324) took their vehicles in for an MOT in April, and 18,170 tests were carried out by garages in the ‘S’ postcode area (Sheffield) last month.
Despite testing falling significantly in April, it’s surprising there were still almost 750,000 inspections carried out last month, after the government announced an MOT holiday.
Any motorists with an MOT due from 30th March have automatically been given a six-month extension. However, vehicles still have to be kept in a roadworthy condition, with garages remaining open for essential repair works.
“These figures from the DVSA show that despite motorists having the opportunity to postpone their MOT test, many have chosen not to do so,” comments Alex Buttle, director of Motorway.co.uk. “There could be a number of reasons why; with general car maintenance, ongoing value and safety issues likely at the forefront of many drivers’ minds.
“Saying that, the number of MOTs in April was still substantially lower than March figures, and we expect to see a similar low level of testing in May, as lockdown restrictions have only been eased slightly this month.
“From a cost point of view, cash strapped car owners might consider delaying their MOT for the full six months, but the reality is that the cost of a test is small compared to the human cost if you’re driving a car that has a serious fault or defect.”
The DVSA recently issued an update to their six-month extension advice, warning drivers that if their car failed the MOT prior to their new date, their existing certificate would be stopped and the car would be illegal to use until it passes a subsequent check.
The IGA and IAAF have called for the extension to end, while the SMMT has also highlighted that garages stand ready to receive customers again, and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy – especially with an expected increase in car usage following advice to avoid public transport.
