Licence Check is introducing a new roadworthiness feature for company and grey fleet drivers concerned over the safety of their vehicles.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Government introduced an automatic six-month extension to MOTs if they were due to expire between March 30 and July 31.

This saw more than three million fewer MOTs carried out in April and May compared to the same period last year, with research by Kwik-Fit suggesting more than 30% of the vehicles due an MOT would be considered unroadworthy with dangerous or major defects.

 The Government has since announce mandatory testing must restart from August 1 due an MOT after that date, but extended vehicles will not be due a retest until the six-month period has expired.

The Licence Check roadworthiness feature puts the onus on company and grey fleet drivers to carry out basic vehicle checks, such as for tyres, windscreen, oil and fluids.

The feature, which is an upgrade to existing services, is at no-additional cost to all current Fleet File and Grey Fleet users within Licence Check’s DAVIS cloud software solution.

Terry Hiles, general manager at Licence Check, said: “The six-month MOT extension will see at five million fewer tests carried out over the period, which raised obvious concerns about the ongoing condition of many vehicles used for work-related purposes.

"Regular roadworthiness inspections of this nature should bring some defects to light sooner rather than later by requiring drivers to regularly perform basic inspections that all too often are simply overlooked, and importantly confirms they have carried them out.

“This not only ensures that employees meet their legal obligations to other road users in terms of the safety of their vehicle, but it provides a clear audit trail to show that basic safety checks have been carried out and that vehicles used for work remain reasonably fit for use,”

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