The UK Transport Minister has signalled that there are currently no plans to end the MOT extension, although he is ‘constantly monitoring’ the situation.
In a letter to the Independent Garage Association (IGA), Grant Shapps states the government needs to ensure that an MOT can be conducted safely with the lowest possible risk to people’s health, this includes both MOT staff and those going in for test.
“The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has published guidance on conducting tests while adhering to social distancing measures, and they continue to work with testers to develop best practice guidance for these circumstances. The public need to feel safe going in for an MOT test, and those doing the testing need to feel safe,” he adds.
“We are pleased to hear that plans to stop the extension are constantly under review, and his response mirrors the IGA’s desire to meet the safety measures required to end the MOT extension,” the industry body said in a statement.
“We support the Transport Secretary’s view that chances of a second spike must be minimised, the wellbeing of consumers and MOT staff must be put first, and people who are self-isolating or shielding must not be put at unnecessary risk.
“However, the IGA is doing everything possible to prove to the Government that garages are safe places to be. The IGA’s Covid-19 audits will provide the support garages need to meet the Government’s safe working standards. These audits are provided at no cost to members, utilising IGA field resources, and will underpin the Transport Secretary’s requirements to facilitate a safe environment for consumers and garage staff.”
Concerns over a sudden influx of vehicles being booked for testing were also echoed by the Transport Secretary. “When testing is reintroduced, it needs to be done when there is sufficient capacity, not only immediately, but also when those vehicles that have been excluded become due for testing,” he wrote.
Although the MOT extension allows drivers an extra six months to have their annual check carried out, around 750,000 tests were completed in April, according to the DVSA.
While it was recently rumoured that the extension would end on 1st June, following calls by leading industry groups, the Prime Minister’s latest lockdown-easing update made no mention of the matter. However, car showrooms are now permitted to reopen, albeit with social-distancing measures in place.
