Drivers given six-month MOT exemption due to coronavirus

Car, bike and van owners are to be given a six-month MOT extension as the country struggles to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

The Department for Transport has announced that all ‘light’ vehicles due an MOT from March 30 onwards will be given the exemption.

The move means that drivers will legally be able to use their car for essential travel, such as going to do basic shopping, or getting to work where it is an essential role that can’t be done from home.

Garages will remain open to carry out essential repair work.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We must ensure those on the frontline of helpingthenationcombatCOVID19 are able to do so.

“Allowing this temporary exemptionfromvehicletesting will enable vital services such as deliveries to continue, frontline workers to get to work, and people get essential food and medicine.

“Safety is key, which is why garageswillremainopenforessential repair work.”

While all vehicles due an MOT from March 30 will receive an automatic MOT extension, those due one before then must still have the test carried out.

There is guidance for those whose MOT is due before March 30 here. Separate guidance for those due an MOT on or after March 30 can be found here.

Those eligible for the extension must still be kept in a roadworthy condition and drivers can still be prosecuted if they are driving an unsafe vehicle.

The legislation will be introduced on March 30 and will come into immediate effect for 12 months, following a short consultation with key organisations.

What to do if you car is due an MOT soon

If your MOT is due on or afterMarch30,youdonotneedto do anything. Your vehicle will automatically be given a sixmonth extension from its MOT expiry date and online records will be updated to reflect this.

You must, however, keep your vehicle maintained in a roadworthy condition. And once the exemption expires you will have to submit your car/bike/van for testing.

If your MOT is due before March 30, or has already expired, it must pass the test before you are allowed to drive it.

Garages are classified as essential services and are allowed to remain open to carry outMOTsandessentialrepairs, so you should be able to get an MOT if your vehicle requires one.

If you or anyone you live with has symptoms of COVID-19, or you are classified as vulnerable, you must not take your car to an MOT centre.

Ifyoucan’tgetanMOTthat’s due because you’re in self-isolation, the Department for Transport says it is working with insurers and the police to ensure people aren’t unfairly penalised for things out of their control.

MG has announced that it will supply up to 100 new electric cars to NHS agencies working to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

The budget British brand has said that its dealers will provide MG ZS EV models to create additional transport capacity for NHS staff around the country as they tackle the virus.

Up to 100 cars will be supplied via MG’s nationwide dealer network for up to six months, completely free of charge.

The first six cars have already been supplied to Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust by MG dealer Chorley Group.

In a statement, the brand said: “By providing additional transport capacity with low running costs to the NHS, MG and its dealers are doing their bit to support the national effort in these unprecedented times.”

Daniel Gregorious, head of sales and marketing at MG Motor UK, said “As a proud British brand, MG is more than just a car manufacturer. Together with our dealer network, we want to do our bit to help the country to come through this uncertain time.

“By providing 100 electric cars to our NHS heroes, we hope that we will help to keep healthcare moving so that as many people as possible can receive the support they need. It’s also our way of saying thank you to those selfless people who work so hard to keep us all safe”.