How does coronavirus affect MOTs?

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the public in many aspects of daily life – whether you’re working from home, ordering take-aways instead of eating out, or exercising via a run instead of going to the gym, many people have had to make changes to their lifestyle.

Unlike the first lockdown, the MOT is one thing that hasn’t been affected by the second wave of COVID-19 restrictions; so, what can you do to ensure your car’s MOT status remains valid and roadworthy? Trust My Garage is here to help!

What is the MOT?

The MOT is a government-mandated test for vehicles to ensure they meet safety and roadworthiness standards, as well as environmental standards.

A new vehicle requires its first MOT test after three years, and then will need one every year after that. You cannot drive or park your vehicle on a public road if the MOT has run out, and you can be prosecuted if caught without a valid MOT.

The Gov.uk website states you must get an MOT for your vehicle by either:

• the third anniversary of its registration
• the anniversary of its last MOT, if it’s over 3 years old

The MOT checks many important parts of your vehicle, as shown here;

These checks ensure vehicles meet the minimum requirements for road safety and environmental legislation.

After a vehicle’s MOT test, it will receive a certificate stating whether it has passed or failed the MOT. You may get a list of ‘minor’ or ‘advisory’ problems to monitor or fix in the future.

If the vehicle has ‘dangerous’ or ‘major’ problems it will fail its MOT, and you will not be allowed to drive it until the problems are fixed. The fail will be noted in the vehicle’s MOT history and you will get a ‘refusal of an MOT test certificate’ from the test centre.

You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get 3 penalty points for driving a vehicle that has failed its MOT because of a ‘dangerous’ problem.

Why was there an MOT extension in the first lockdown?

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the national lockdown restrictions, some vehicles were granted a six-month MOT extension by the government to help protect the public and avoid the spread of COVID-19. It was also to help the many key workers that found it difficult to get their cars to a garage, to stay mobile and continue to provide the vital services they delivered.

The extension was not mandatory, and the Government still advised the public to have an MOT test for their vehicle if they felt it necessary at the original time their MOT was due. 2.1 million MOTs were still carried out in April and May, despite lockdown restrictions and the implementation of the MOT extension.

Does my car need a valid MOT during lockdown?

In short, yes. Regardless of any lockdown restrictions, your vehicle must always have a valid MOT. You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT, and unless your MOT date has been extended by the Government you must submit your vehicle for testing before the expiry of its current MOT.

To check your vehicle’s MOT expiry date, you can use the Gov.uk MOT check service. The service also lets you set up text reminders for your MOT due date and check if there are any manufacturer recalls issued for your vehicle.

Where can I go to get an MOT test?

To conduct MOT tests, a garage (or dealership) must be a DVSA-approved MOT testing station. You’ll know if a premises is an MOT testing station by the display of the official logo:

Some service and repair garages also conduct MOTs, and some garages will only offer MOTs, so check which is best for you before booking in your test. If you purchased your vehicle from a branch of the manufacturer’s franchised dealerships you can also use their facilities for your MOT, depending on your preference.

Many Trust My Garage members offer MOTs as part of their range of services, so it’s always worth checking if there’s a member in your area! It’s simple to do, just head to our “Find a Garage” map and pop in your postcode! Try it out here: 

You can check TMG members in your area by distance, number of reviews or star rating. You can also view their profile page to see what services they offer and even request more information directly from the garage. TMG member profile pages also provide direct contact information, so if you prefer a phone call you can contact a garage quickly and easily.

As for pricing, there’s a maximum amount MOT test stations can charge, depending on the type of vehicle. The maximum fee for a car is £54.85 and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle, and the fee is not subject to VAT.

How can I prepare my car for an MOT?

Once you’ve booked an MOT, you may want to take extra steps to prepare your vehicle during the pandemic.

Many motorists have taken to leaving Personal Protective Equipment (PEE) in their vehicle’s for convenience, such as face coverings and/or disposable gloves; make sure these are removed in advance of your MOT test so garage staff don’t have to touch them. Some garages have taken to reminding to customers at time of booking and again on the day of their visit to ensure any used PPE is removed from vehicles to ensure the safety of both staff and customers.

You may also want to clean your vehicle prior to it entering the garage.

Some garages are currently offering deep-cleaning services at an additional charge when you take in your vehicle, so if you’re interested in a professional clean you can discuss this with the garage to see if it’s an option they provide.

Once your garage visit is over and your MOT is passed successfully, you can put your PPE back in place and carry on motoring.