MOT Temporary Exemption
What You Need To Know.
What You Need To Know.
We will cover information from DVA (including info on bogus texts), PSNI and Vehicle Insurance. Plus how DS Autos can help.
As always as a car owner and driving common sense applies. You must ensure the vehicle you are driving is in a roadworthy state.

The Temporary Exemption is in place for a few months. As an example a client of ours was due MOT 16th March in Larne and was given an extension to 23rd June. This MOT Temporary Exemption Certificate will get issued in advance of the expiry date, to provide assurances to customers that they may continue to drive. From this is in place your vehicle will be exempt and the paper certificate should follow within 10 days.
If your MOT is due over the months ahead you should book as normal here https://www.dvtaonlineni.gov.uk/public/bookVehicleAppointment_1CollectInfo.aspx
The DVA has suspended car and light goods vehicles from MOT testing in all MOT Centres as cracks where found in vehicle lifts at some test centres.
VEHICLES NOT AFFECTED:
– HGVs
– Buses
– Motorcycles
VEHICLES NOT COVERED:
– 4 year old cars that are due 1st MOT
– Taxis
– Car Dealerships
Priority will be given to these groups and you should call the priority vehicle contact line 0300 200 7862 between 9am and 5pm Monday-Friday.
INSURANCE:
Drivers are advised to make their insurance company aware of the MOT Temporary Exemption Certificate.
The Association of British Insurers states an insurance policy requires that a vehicle is always roadworthy. As always this is you the owner / drivers responsibility to ensure your vehicle is safe to drive and complies with laws.
Insurers will not penalise you for the suspension of MOT. However, any claims will be reviewed on a case by case basis provided your MOT was booked.
PSNI ON VEHICLE TAX & MOT:
Given these exceptional circumstances where PSNI detects a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate, officers would be encouraged to exercise discretion, provided the vehicle is in a roadworthy condition.
Driving without vehicle tax is not prosecuted by the PSNI and is the remit of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) based in Swansea.
Where a police officer detects a vehicle without tax and it is outside of the 14 day period provided in the legislation, a referral is made to the DVLA.
HOW DS AUTOS CAN HELP:
We can service your vehicle, check roadworthiness and prepare to our MOT prep standards. We deal with all makes and models of vehicles and are serving the people of Antrim and further afield for over 25 years.
PM on facebook,
Call us on 028 9446 6662 (office hours)
Web: https://www.dsautos.com
Email: hello@dsautos.com
CAUTION – Things to be aware of:
The DVA are aware of text messages doing the rounds asking you to click a link to get a refund. DVA are only issuing texts as reminders to book or attend tests . For safety do not click any links within the texts, contact details – Phone: 0300 200 7861 Email: dva.customerservices@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
From creating this article some information may have changed. Please ensure you keep up to date via the NI Direct .gov website.