Coronavirus has forced the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to extend the MOT on vans and other light commercial vehicles (LCVs) for six months.

Due to the unfolding COVID-19 situation, vans, cars and motorcycles due their MOT from March 30 will have their MOT extended by six months, it said.

It did not set an end date on the measure, instead saying “this will continue until confirmed otherwise”.

However, it stressed that vehicles must be kept in a roadworthy condition and drivers can be prosecuted if they drive an unsafe vehicle.

The DVSA has published guidance on MOTs due before March 30 and separate guidance for those due from March 30.

It has also published guidance for garages. 

Guidance for MOT garages

The Government has extended the requirement for certain businesses to close, but garages are allowed to stay open.

This is to make sure that essential vehicle maintenance and repair to keep vehicles, goods and key workers moving and safe can continue, it said.

The DVSA has already announced that it had suspended MOTs for all heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and public service vehicles (PSVs).

The suspension will last for up to three months from last Friday (March 20).

All HGV and PSV vehicles with an MOT will be issued with a three-month certificate of temporary exemption (CTE) until further notice, said DVSA.

Vehicles must be maintained, kept safe to drive (roadworthy) and operate within the terms of operators’ licence conditions, it added.

Lorries and trailers due for test in the suspension period will be issued with exemptions automatically. Some vehicles, such as those due for their first MOT test and vehicles returning to service with a test certificate that expired before March, will require an application for exemption certificates.

For the latest fleet advice on coronavirus from Commercial Fleet, click here.

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