Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the operation of the MOT process during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government introduced legislation to exclude light vehicles (cars, vans, motor cycles, etc.) that were due to be examined between 30th March 2020 and 29th March 2021 from the requirement to hold a test certificate for a one-off period of six months. This was later amended to end the exemption on 30 July 2020, in order to minimise disruption to the testing regime.

At the peak of restrictions, in April, there was a 78.86% reduction in the number of vehicles being tested. However, as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted garages reopened, and testing resumed. July saw a decrease in testing volume of 5.72% when compared with 2019. Once mandatory testing was reintroduced from 1st August, testing volumes increased relative to 2019 levels by 9.88 per cent in August and by 16.28 per cent in September. Volumes are increasing as vehicles which were granted the exclusion become due for test, and both DVSA and the Department continue to monitor the situation.

Roadworthiness and vehicle testing is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and they have taken their own approach to the COVID-19 outbreak.