1.1M unroadworthy cars predicted to return to roads as result of six-month MOT exemption

49 per cent of drivers receiving MOT extension will go through entire period without getting car tested

1.1M unroadworthy cars predicted to return to roads as result of six-month MOT exemption
Image: Bigstock.

New research has revealed that almost 1.1 million unroadworthy vehicles are set to return to the roads as the lockdown begins to ease.

DVSA MOT data analysis shows that an estimated 1,096,000 vehicles which have received a six month MOT extension would have failed a test with dangerous or major defects had they undergone an MOT.

Of these unroadworthy vehicles, it is estimated that some 316,000 would have dangerous defects, while the remaining 780,000 vehicles would fail with major defects.

Related: DVSA issues clarification on MOT exemptions

Since 30 March vehicles have been provided with an automatic six month extension to their MOT expiry date, in response to the need to reduce traffic during the lockdown.

As a result, only around 24 per cent of the vehicles that were originally due a test in that period have been tested.

The law requires vehicle owners to keep their vehicles roadworthy, even if they have received an MOT extension.

Research for Kwik Fit has found that 49 per cent of drivers who have received, or are due to receive, an MOT extension will go to the end of that period without getting their car tested.

Eight per cent of those who will wait for the end of the extension to get their car tested, some 1.1 million drivers, said they will do so as they believe there is something wrong with their car and don’t want to risk it failing.

In pictures: Faults on cars eligible for MOT extension

One in five drivers waiting to the end of the extension say they are doing so to save money.

The research also found that that those who have had their car tested, irrespective of the extension, have been driving more miles under lockdown than the average.

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “The extension has been very helpful to drivers during the lockdown, but as COVID-19 prevention measures begin to ease we urge the government to remove the automatic extension in order to prevent dangerous and illegal cars taking to the roads unchecked.

“Our research found that the most common reason people were giving for going to the end of the extension without a test was that they ‘knew their car was safe’.

“Unfortunately, our experience shows that many people who think their car is safe are actually driving a vehicle with dangerous or major defects – the physical MOT test is a vital way to help ensure the safety of those drivers, and the other road users around them.”

Related: Pressure over MOT extension continues to mount

Vehicles exempt from MOTs which are presented for testing and fail to achieve a pass must no longer be driven on public roads, a DVSA notification has this week confirmed.

From today (27 May 2020) test certificates will remind drivers that if a vehicle fails its MOT, the six-month MOT exemption is no longer valid.

Meanwhile, pressure over the six-month MOT extension is continuing to mount, with the IGA and IAAF both writing to government to renew safety concerns.

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Home Page Forums 1.1M unroadworthy cars predicted to return to roads as result of six-month MOT exemption

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  • #196058 Reply

    New research has revealed that almost 1.1 million unroadworthy vehicles are set to return to the UK’s streets as the lockdown begins to ease and peopl
    [See the full post at: 1.1M unroadworthy cars predicted to return to roads as result of six-month MOT exemption]

    #196079 Reply
    Alastair
    Guest

    It is essential that the 6 month extension is stopped as soon as possible and that further publicity is given to the fact that it is still the vehicle owner’s responsibility to ensure that their car is safe & roadworthy. As the lockdown is now being slowly lifted, more and more vehicles are on the roads every day, a lot of these vehicles sharing the roads with us could be an a dangerous condition and it is not just a safety concern for these vehicles occupants, but everyone who shares the roads with them, and innocent pedestrians on pavements alongside the roads.
    In addition to this, many cars that have not (or have hardly) turned a wheel for the past 8 – 10 weeks may also have developed problems due to this inactivity. A lot of time, money & effort has gone into the attempts to prevent unnecessary deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic, lets not encourage replacing these with unnecessary fatalities due to traffic accidents caused by dangerous vehicles.

    #196080 Reply
    Epicyclic
    Guest

    So why isn’t this approach taken when a vehicle fails an MOT during the month preceding expiry? In this situation DVSA relies on the argument that the vehicle’s insurance may be invalid if it continues to be used. Since there is no rational basis for such a distinction, this simply represents a further example of those in government making this stuff up to suit themselves.

    #196092 Reply
    john warwick
    Guest

    it is stupid the dvsa has not stopped the exemption, everything else is being lifted, you can drive as far as you want, dvsa get your act together or let a sensible motoring body take over

    #196108 Reply
    Harry
    Guest

    Wow DVSA! An other step backwards. The general public are less likely than ever now, to have there car tested, during the extension with the latest rule change of no extension if it fails.
    Lets just scrap the extension and get back to work.
    20,000 odd MOT stations all struggling to survive and not one word of support or help from the DVSA pitiful.

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