Drivers will now be able to get a one-year exemption from having an MOT certificate as the delays in testing continues to cause disruptions.
The delays in MOT tests have been a nationwide issue with Northern Ireland being hit the worst.
Now to combat the Government has announced plans to introduce one-year temporary exemption certificates for some private cars.
The temporary exemptions will apply to private cars registered between June 1 2019 and May 31 2020 or between June 1 2017 and May 31 2018 which have MOT certificates issued by the Driver and Vehicle Agency.
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Roughly 115,000 cars eligible for relief
GETTYRoughly 115,000 cars may be eligible for a TEC which will come into effect from June 1 and will be automatically processed by the DVA.
The exemption means motorists can continue to drive on UK roads without risk of fines as long as they are roadworthy, taxed and insured.
The Infrastructure Minister also confirmed he would consider launching a public consultation on testing every two years for private cars, light goods vehicles under 3,500kg and motorcycles, instead of yearly which is the current scheme.
John O’Dowd said: “DVA staff have been working around the clock to tackle an increasingly high demand for MOT tests due to a growing population, a higher proportion of households with access to a vehicle and more older cars on the road.”
The MOT testing crisis was sparked by Covid with backlogs failing to recover ever since with drivers now waiting as long as six months.
O’Dowd added: “In each of the last two years, the DVA conducted more than 1.1 million vehicle tests- the highest numbers ever recorded.
“Indeed, there were just seven days in 2023 when the DVA did not offer MOT appointments.
“A recruitment process is under way to help fill vacancies across DVA’s network of test centres and efforts have been made to reduce the number of no shows - approximately 50,000 customers failed to attend a booked appointment in each of the last two years, which places additional demand on this service.”
Despite the “best efforts” by the Government, waiting times still remain high.
O’Dowd explained that through TECs it will give the DVA time to relieve “exceptional pressure” on the system by completing the recruitment process for new MOT centres.
Once the test sites are operational they will aim to provide more than 200,000 tests for vehicles annually.
The need for action was originally raised by the National Franchised Dealers Association Northern Ireland which warned the current issues are “intolerable”.
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PASue Robinson, chief executive of NFDA, said productive conversations were taking place as experts try to minimise the impact on Northern Ireland’s automotive industry.
She added: “One common theme that repeatedly cropped up amongst discussions was the ongoing issues surrounding the existing MOT regime and the current intolerable backlog.”
