How the six-month MOT extension works
Do you know what will happen if your vehicle’s MOT due date is on or after 30 March 2020?
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.
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.
- Three days before your MOT was originally due to expire, check the expiry date has been extended.
- 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 expired
- your vehicle registration number (number plate)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will then:
- update your vehicle’s record
- email you to tell you this has been done
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.
Find out:
- how to check your vehicle is safe
- what rules you need to follow to maintain your vehicle
Get unsafe vehicles repaired
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.
Cars – Checks you should carry out:
https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-safe
Commercial vehicle – Checks you should carry out:
https://www.gov.uk/roadside-vehicle-checks-for-commercial-drivers/making-sure-your-vehicle-is-roadworthy
The Highway Code, Road safety and vehicle rules:
https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/highway-code-road-safety
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/annex-6-vehicle-maintenance-safety-and-security
16 April 2020