Lockdown: MOT centres remain open for tests

The government has advised MOT test centres remain open in all parts of Great Britain, despite new lockdown restrictions.

MOT test centre

MOT test centres remain open in all parts of Great Britain, the government has confirmed, despite newly announced lockdown restrictions in England and Scotland, and alert level 4 restrictions in Wales.

During lockdown, motorists are allowed to leave home and get an MOT ‘if you need to drive when lawfully leaving home’.

The government has reminded motorists they should book a MOT as normal if it is due from 1 August 2020.

The six-month MOT extension was only valid for tested due between 30 March 2020 and 31 July 2020.

MOTs due from 1 August 2020 must be booked as normal as an MOT extension was not imposed during the second nationwide lockdown.

The ending of the extension means many more vehicles are due for an MOT than is normal at this time of year.

Motorists without a valid MOT can be fined up to £1,000 – and if the vehicle is deemed dangerous and an MOT failure, the fine can increase up to £2,500 and motorists given three penalty points on their driving licence.

What happens during a Covid-friendly MOT?

MOT reception staff are instructed to wear single-use gloves to handle car keys during all tiers of MOT tests.

Centres that are able to follow social distancing rules can allow customers to view the MOT test and wait in reception – but they can also limit or close those areas if they want to.

Vehicle windows should be opened five minutes before starting the test, in order to ventilate the vehicle.

During the MOT, testers are instructed to use a new single-use pair of gloves. New seat covers should also be used.

Assistants should follow the same rules – however, they should not be inside the vehicle while the tester carries out interior checks.

They can only enter the vehicle once all interior checks are complete.

During underside and under-bonnet checks, assistants should ideally keep windows closed.

If this isn’t possible, they should only open the window far enough for the technicians to hear one another.

After the MOT test, gloves must be disposed of and the MOT team must wash their hands.

MOT certificates must not be printed out – although motorists can download and print their own certificate when they get home, via the government’s check MOT history service.

Mobile or contactless payments should be used wherever possible – however, the advised maximum MOT fee is £54.85.

The contactless payment limit in the UK is £45.

Last year, Halfords said it would waive the MOT failure rebooking fee for customers who needed to self-isolate due to coronavirus.

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Richard Aucock
Richard Aucockhttps://www.richardaucock.co.uk/
Richard is director at Motoring Research. He has been with us since 2001, and has been a motoring journalist even longer. He won the IMCO Motoring Writer of the Future Award in 1996 and the acclaimed Sir William Lyons Award in 1998. Both awards are run by the Guild of Motoring Writers and Richard is currently vice chair of the world's largest organisation for automotive media professionals. Richard is also a juror and Steering Committee director for World Car Awards and the UK juror for the AUTOBEST awards.

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