Coronavirus (COVID-19): MOTs for cars, vans and motorcycles due from 30 March 2020.

From 30 March 2020, MOT due dates for cars, motorcycles and light vans will be extended by 6 months. This is being done to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.​​

What happens next

You do not need to do anything to extend your vehicle’s MOT expiry date if it’s on or after 30 March 2020. However, you must keep your vehicle safe to drive. Scroll below to find out more.

Your vehicle will be automatically given a 6-month MOT exemption. This will extend your current MOT expiry date by 6 months.

Example

Your vehicle’s MOT was due to expire on 3 April 2020.

This will automatically be extended to 3 October 2020. You will need to get your MOT by this date.

You can check your MOT history to see when you have been issued an exemption. It will not be updated straight away, so keep checking back if your new due date MOT is not yet showing.

You will not get a paper exemption certificate.

If your vehicle tax is due, you can tax your vehicle as soon as your MOT due date has been updated.

If your vehicle’s first MOT is due

Your vehicle will be automatically given a 6-month MOT exemption from the date its first MOT was due.

If your first MOT was due before 30 March 2020 and your vehicle did not pass

Your vehicle will not get an extension to its MOT due date.

Your vehicle will need to pass an MOT before you can drive it again.

The government is allowing MOT centres and garages to remain open. So you can still get an MOT if you need your vehicle:

• to shop for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
• for any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
• to travel to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home

Keep your vehicle safe to drive

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

You must make sure your vehicle is safe to drive (‘roadworthy’). It can be unsafe even if your MOT expiry date has been extended.

Every time you drive you should check:

• the windscreen, windows and mirrors are clean
• all lights work
• the brakes work

Your vehicle's handbook will tell you how often to check the:

• engine oil
• water level in the radiator or expansion tank
• brake fluid level
• battery
• windscreen and rear window washer bottles - top up with windscreen washer fluid if necessary
• tyres: they must have the correct tread depth and be free of cuts and defects

The handbook will also tell you when your vehicle needs to be serviced.

Tyre tread

Tread must be a certain depth depending on the type of vehicle:

• cars, light vans and light trailers - 1.6 millimetres (mm)
• motorcycles, large vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles - 1mm
• Mopeds only need to have visible tread.

There must be tread across the middle three-quarters and around the entire tyre.

Speak to our Digital Team

If you have any questions on the above please email us at customercare@peoples-ford.co.uk; live chat here on the website; send us an enquiry form via the website or direct message us on Facebook or Twitter @PeoplesFord and we will do everything we can to help. We are currently rescheduling and booking for the week commencing the 15th April. however, as you know the world is an uncertain place right now and this may need to change based on government guidelines.

In these uncertain times, we would like to thank you for your custom and trust we can continue to support you with all your motoring needs.

Finally take care of yourself and your families and we look forward to opening our doors to you in what we hope is the not too distant future.