Your MOT certificate expiry dates are being extended by 6 months to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), if it was due to expire on or after 30 March 2020 and your vehicle is a:
– car;
– motorcycle;
– light van;
– other light vehicle;
– this includes vehicles that are due their first-ever MOT test.
There are different rules if your MOT expiry date was on or before 29 March 2020.

What you need to do?

Your vehicle’s MOT expiry date will only be updated a few days before it was originally due to expire:

1. Three days before your MOT was originally due to expire, check the expiry date has been extended.
2. If the expiry date has not been extended 3 days before it was due to expire, email covid19mot@dvsa.gov.uk.

You need to include these details in the email:
– the date your MOT is due to expire;
– your vehicle registration number (number plate);

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will then update your vehicle’s record and email you to tell you this has been done.

How the 6-month extension works?

Your vehicle’s MOT expiry date will be automatically extended by 6 months if it’s eligible. This will be done just before it’s due to expire.

This means that:
– your vehicle will still have a valid MOT certificate for an extra 6 months;
– you can still tax your vehicle – you might need to wait to do this until later in the month if both your MOT and vehicle tax run out this month;
-your insurance will still be valid your vehicle’s record will be updated so the police can see you have a valid MOT;
– You will not get a new paper MOT certificate with the new expiry date on it;
-You must still keep your vehicle safe to drive.

If your vehicle tax and MOT run out in April?

You cannot renew your vehicle tax until your MOT expiry date has been extended. It will be extended a few days before it was originally due to expire.

This means you might need to wait until later in April to tax your vehicle.

Check that the MOT expiry date has been extended before you tax your vehicle.

Keep your vehicle safe to drive!

You must make sure your vehicle is safe to drive (‘roadworthy’). It can be unsafe even if your MOT expiry date has been extended. Take your vehicle to be repaired at the nearest open garage if it’s unsafe. These are allowed to stay open during the coronavirus outbreak. You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get 3 penalty points for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

Source and more information can be found on gov.uk.

PBIC offers free support! If you have any questions you can contact the PBIC team on 01234 328100 or e-mail us at info@pbic.org.uk Monday to Friday between 9.30 am to 3 pm.

If you need advice URGENTLY, we have launched an additional PBIC helpline 01234 331817. The helpline will be open on Monday, Thursday and Friday between 9.30 am – 3 pm.