Commercial Van Fleet MOT exemption

Mandatory MOT tests for all cars and vans in England, Scotland and Wales are set to recommence from the 1st of August as COVID-19 measures continue to be lifted.

Brought in at the end of March, the government granted a six-month exemption from MOTs to help slow transmission of the virus after the introduction of lockdown and the closure of many test sites.

The measure allowed individuals and businesses to continue to drive their vehicles throughout the pandemic in order to carry on providing essential services.

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On the 30th of June, however, Roads minister Baroness Vere announced that any vehicle due an MOT from the 1st of August onwards will be required to get a test certificate to continue using it.

Importantly, if the vehicle was or is due at MOT between the 30th of March and the 31st July, the full six-month extension still applies.

For instance, if the vehicle’s MOT is due to expire on the 30th July 2020, the individual or company will not be required to get an MOT test until the 30th of January 2021. If the MOT is due on the 1st of August 2020, however, then the company or person will be required to get it tested by or before that date as normal.

Roads Minister Baroness Vere said: “As people return to our roads, it is vital that motorists are able to keep their vehicles safe. That’s why as restrictions are eased, from 1 August MOT testing will again become mandatory.

“Garages across the country are open and I urge drivers who are due for their MOT to book a test as soon they can.”

For mobility firms with large fleets of vehicles, it is recommended that companies book tests as soon as possible for any vehicles where the MOTs is set to expire in early August as garages across the country face a backlog of tests.

Steve Nash, CEO of The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), has welcomed the reintroduction of mandatory testing: “The exemption from mandatory MOT testing announced at the end of March made sense at that time. But our sector moved very quickly to ensure it could work safely and support motorists during the lockdown. It’s welcome, therefore, that the government has announced the reintroduction of mandatory MOT testing from 1st August and is urging motorists to get their car booked in as soon as possible if they have already passed their MOT date.

“The risks of the exemption were increasing exponentially the longer it went on. The MOT on millions of vehicles has already expired, which means even the most basic checks haven’t been done, with claims that more than a million vehicles due for their MOT since lockdown are likely to have failed.

“MOT Testing Centres are open and ready to help drivers – with all the appropriate social distancing and hygiene measures in place.”

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