The temporary release will allow vital services to continue, key workers to go to work, and other citizens to go get basic food and medicine during the COVID-19 virus epidemic.
Cars, motorbikes and vans will be granted MOT exemptions allowing people to continue with essential vehicle journeys, but the vehicles must be kept in immaculate condition.
Vehicle owners will be granted a 6-month exemption from MOT testing, allowing them to continue to travel to work if they cannot work from home, or even to buy necessities.
All cars, vans and motorbikes that normally require an MOT test will be exempt from regular MOT from 30 March 2020. Vehicles must be kept in immaculate condition and garages will remain open for major repairs. Drivers will be fined if they drive unsafe vehicles.
Citizens should stay at home and avoid travelling. The only reasons they should leave their homes are those approved by the UK government. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We must ensure that those who are essential in helping the UK nation fight COVID-19 can actually do so. Providing a temporary exemption from vehicle testing will allow vital services such as deliveries to continue, workers to continue to go to work, and people to get essential food and medicine. Safety is paramount, which is why garages will remain open for essential vehicle repairs.”
The legislation will be introduced on 30 March 2020 and will come into effect immediately for the next 12 months, following brief consultations with key organisations. Drivers will still need to test their vehicles until the new regulations come into force, if they must use them.
If you are unable to get your MOT because you are self-isolating, the Department for Transport is working with insurers and the police to ensure people are not negatively affected by things beyond their control.
Practical driving tests and annual tests for trucks and buses have been suspended for up to 3 months.
Additional information can be found at the following link:
