The Best Car Finance Blog In The World

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by MoneySuperMarket has revealed that more than 3m (3,025,345) cars and vans had their MOT extended since March 30.

Broken down by EU class, that is 2,788,594 passenger vehicles and 236,751 light goods up to 3000kg – roughly 65,000 cars per day. MoneySuperMarket predicts there could be another 1m cars with MOT extensions by June 1.

MOTs are automatically being extended by six months if it was due to expire on or after March 30 and if its eligible. However, it has recently been updated on May 27, that a MOT extension will no longer apply if you take your vehicle for a MOT and it fails. Your vehicle will need to be fixed and pass its MOT before you can use it again.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) highlights that safety remains its top priority and drivers are at risk of prosecution if found to be driving unsafe vehicles. Vehicles must be kept in a roadworthy condition and garages remain open for essential repair work.

Car servicing and repair company, Kwik Fit, has said it expects to see a significant demand in MOT requests post the six-month extension period, as current trends suggest that most drivers will wait until the MOT extension is over before arranging for their MOT to be completed.

As a result, there will be a significant demand for MOT tests in October, November and towards the end of 2020, putting pressure on capacity, the company says.

According to statistics provided by MoneySuperMarket, of all MOTs due this year, 18% were due in April and May. Data based on drivers using the MoneySuperMarket car monitor, showed that October is expected to be the busiest month as 15% of all MOTs are due in within the month.

However, Kwik Fit says it is taking measures to increasing capacity at more than 500 MOT test centres across the UK and would encourage drivers to book the MOT in advance of the extended due date, especially if the vehicle is being used more regularly during that time.

Kwik Fit estimates that 25% of fleet drivers who could have deferred their MOT have still had a test on their vehicle. However, most drivers it would have expected during the weeks since the introduction of the MOT extension have chosen not to visit, due to the restrictions in place for lockdown.

New research by Kwik Fit also revealed that almost 1.1 million unroadworthy vehicles are set to return to the roads as lockdown begins to ease. An estimated 1,096,000 vehicles which would have received a six-month extension, would have failed a test with dangerous or major defects had they undergone a MOT.

Dan Joyce, fleet director at Kwik Fit, said: “Of the fleet vehicles which received an automatic extension, our experience tells us that around one in five would have failed a test if they had received one.

“Therefore, our on-going message to drivers whom have been using their vehicle or will now start to use their vehicle again whilst lockdown restriction are eased over the coming weeks and months, is to consider the roadworthiness and general condition of the vehicle prior to using it again more regularly.”

Kwik Fit have continued to offer MOT slots throughout its network during the MOT extension period and says that although volumes have significantly reduced during this time, it has seen some demand for MOT’s from key workers and people using their vehicles to continue with essential journeys during lockdown.

Three quarters of a million MOT tests still carried out in April

But despite the MOT extension, three quarters of a million tests were still carried out in April, figures from Motorway.co.uk have revealed.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) made by the car selling comparison website showed that 746,157 MOTs were carried out in April 2020, down 80% on March 2020 – where 3,723,524 motorists took their vehicles for a MOT.

Perth in Central Scotland saw the biggest drop in MOTs last month, with tests down 85.7%, in comparison to March. Inverness saw 85.6% fewer MOTs in April, than in March.

More than 20,000 motorists in the Birmingham area (21,324) took their vehicles for a MOT in April, and 18,170 tests were carried out by garages in the ‘S’ postcode area (Sheffield) last month.

Alex Buttle, director at Motorway.co.uk, said: “These figures from the DVSA show that despite motorists having the opportunity to postpone their MOT test, many have chosen not to do so. There could be several reasons why; with general car maintenance, ongoing value and safety issues likely at the forefront of many drivers’ minds.

“Saying that, the number of MOTs in April was still substantially lower than March figures, and we expect to see a similarly low level of testing in May, as lockdown restrictions have only been eased slightly this month.”