Currently reading: Coronavirus: UK drivers granted six-month MOT exemption

Roadworthy vehicles can be driven for essential purposes without an MOT certificate from 30 March

Vehicle owners will be granted a six-month exemption from MOT testing, in an effort to keep essential workers on the road during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The exemption comes into effect from 30 March, but the Department for Transport has warned that vehicles should only be used “to travel to work where this absolutely cannot be done from home, or shop for necessities”. 

MOT tests had already been suspended for heavy vehicles – including lorries, buses and trailers – last week, but the halting of roadworthiness testing has now been expanded to include cars, vans and motorcycles. 

Vehicles must be kept in a safe, roadworthy condition, and garages are allowed to remain open to carry out essential repair work. 

The official announcement says drivers “can be prosecuted if driving unsafe vehicles”, but it is unclear whether the usual financial penalty for driving without an MOT – up to £1000 in some cases – is still in place. 

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Allowing this temporary exemption from vehicle testing will enable vital services such as deliveries to continue, frontline workers to get to work, and people to get essential food and medicine.

“Safety is key, which is why garages will remain open for essential repair work.”

The universal MOT exemption will be in place for 12 months, but valid MOT certificates remain a legal requirement until it comes into effect on 30 March, and tests are still being carried out. 

The cancellation of MOT testing is the latest adjustment made by the Department for Transport in light of the government’s decision to enforce a widespread stay-at-home directive. Practical driving tests have been postponed for three months and London’s Congestion and ULEZ charges have been halted

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Felix Page

Felix Page
Title: Deputy editor

Felix is Autocar's deputy editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years. 

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LP in Brighton 25 March 2020

But you can’t tax a car without a valid MOT

Must admit my car's MOT was booked for 24th March, so I went ahead with it. I was concerned that without an MOT the car couldn't be taxed and might have needed to be declared SORN. 

jensen_healey 25 March 2020

Please get the facts right...

Please get the facts right....it is not an exemption it is an extension to the expiry date by six months. Vehicles with an MOT expired prior to 30th March are still unroadworthy until tested. Vehicles due to expire in April will need to be tested again in October.

scrap 25 March 2020

This is actually a bit

This is actually a bit terrifying. Plenty of folk don't give a toss about maintaining their vehicle in roadworthy condition, and only the threat of being fined for having no MOT keeps them in check. Yes it's just an extension, but still...

typos1 25 March 2020

By all means grant a limited

By all means grant a limited extension, 3 months at the very most, but 12 months is plain stupid, not only will it potentially allow dangerous vehicles on the road for a year, it will kill the business of MOT test centres and potentially cost jobs, on top of the job losses we ll see because of the virus, how will that help the recovery after we ve beaten the it ? Just another governemnt F up.

Peter Cavellini 25 March 2020

Whoa there!

typos1 wrote:

By all means grant a limited extension, 3 months at the very most, but 12 months is plain stupid, not only will it potentially allow dangerous vehicles on the road for a year, it will kill the business of MOT test centres and potentially cost jobs, on top of the job losses we ll see because of the virus, how will that help the recovery after we ve beaten the it ? Just another governemnt F up.

As we progress through this highly charged times, please remember, as and when the virus peaks, then this year thing might be reduced,  I do agree it's too long, but, the powers that be are just as all at Sea as us.

typos1 25 March 2020

Peter Cavellini wrote:

Peter Cavellini wrote:

typos1 wrote:

By all means grant a limited extension, 3 months at the very most, but 12 months is plain stupid, not only will it potentially allow dangerous vehicles on the road for a year, it will kill the business of MOT test centres and potentially cost jobs, on top of the job losses we ll see because of the virus, how will that help the recovery after we ve beaten the it ? Just another governemnt F up.

As we progress through this highly charged times, please remember, as and when the virus peaks, then this year thing might be reduced,  I do agree it's too long, but, the powers that be are just as all at Sea as us.

This current government is far more "all at sea" than us, theyre useless.