Motor Vehicles: Testing

(asked on 9th September 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative assessment he has made of the (a) number of and (b) deficit in MOT testing in each month since March (i) 2019 and (ii) 2020; what estimate he has made of the (A) number of MOT tests required to restore adequate service levels and (B) average number of days before a request for a MOT test is met; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Rachel Maclean Portrait
Rachel Maclean
This question was answered on 17th September 2020

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) monitors MOT testing capacity constantly to inform future planning. The agency does not hold data on MOT booking requests as they are made directly to MOT testing stations (cars) or authorised testing facilities (lorries, buses and trailers).

For lorries, buses and trailers, where DVSA staff conduct annual road worthiness (MOT) tests, the DVSA has issued a series of exemptions. The deadline for a vehicle’s next test depends on when the MOT was originally due and whether the vehicle qualifies for a 3-month or a 12-month exemption. These exemptions will be automatically applied. The DVSA is confident, with its plan for exemptions in place, that it can deliver to capacity to carry out tests when they are due. DVSA is working with industry to ensure that tests are presented when due, so that demand is managed.

For light vehicles, such as cars, where private garages carry out MOTs, a six month extension was applied automatically to all MOTs expiring between 1 April and 31 July 2020. The DVSA is working closely with the industry to help it manage demand for MOTs now extensions are no longer being issued. There is confidence the network of 23,000 garages that conduct MOTs will be able to meet demand for MOTs from light vehicle owners.

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