AQW 23421/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 29/09/2021
Answered On Date: 05/10/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether consideration has been given to the introduction of Temporary Exemption Certificates to deal with current MOT backlog resulting in drivers being unable to use their vehicle due to (i) an inability to renew Vehicle Excise Duty; and (i) their insurance deemed invalid without a valid MOT and paid up Vehicle Excise Duty.

Answer:

From Monday 26 July 2021 normal vehicle test times have been reinstated, which has increased vehicle testing capacity across the network of test centres. In August 2021, the DVA conducted 60,680 full vehicle tests, which is 98% of the five year average for that month.

From a road safety perspective there are no plans to issue further TECs as it is important that all vehicles are brought forward for test at the earliest opportunity.

If a customer has been advised by their insurer that they will not be covered if their vehicle does not have a valid MOT certificate, or they require an MOT to tax a vehicle and cannot secure a date before the MOT expires, they should:

book the earliest available appointment;

keep checking the booking system for an appointment before their MOT expires

If they get to within five days of their MOT expiry date, contact dva.customerservices@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk and DVA will do their best to get an urgent appointment.

Like all public facing services, the Covid-19 restrictions mean that the DVA has had to adapt its services to ensure that they can be provided safely and they would ask customers for their patience at this difficult time.