NEW MOT SYSTEM COULD SAVE £6M A YEAR FOR DRIVERS

A new service that allows motorists to print copies of their MOT certificate at home could save UK drivers a total of £6 million a year.

From this month, drivers who have lost or damaged their MOT certificate can view a copy online, and save and print it for themselves rather than applying to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for a new one.

Previously, obtaining a replacement copy of the MOT certificate would cost you £10. Last year more than 630,000 motorists were issued with replacement paperwork, costing them in excess of £6m.

You need an MOT certificate in order to tax your car at a Post Office or if you want to change a vehicle’s tax class - for example, getting free vehicle tax if you’re a driver with a disability.

And while it’s not a legal requirement to have one when selling a car, most buyers will want to see an MOT certificate along with other paperwork to show the car’s history.

Neil Barlow, head of vehicle engineering at DVSA, said: “We want to make sure that motorists have the information they need to keep their vehicle safe to drive. The free copy MOT certificate service gives consumers choice and saves them time and money.

“The service will also help us to protect consumers by giving them a free alternative to businesses that charge for a copy MOT certificate online.”

You can view and print your car’s MOT certificate at www.gov.uk/replace -motcertificate.