What if I cannot take my car for an MOT?
In the first national lockdown those who were classed as extremely vulnerable to coronavirus were told not to take their vehicles for an MOT, and advised that “the Department for Transport (DfT) is working with insurers and the police to make sure you are not unfairly penalised for not being able to get an MOT.” There has been no such guidance for this third lockdown however.
Currently, gov.uk states that “You must not take your vehicle for its MOT if you’re shielding because you’re clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus.” However, it informs readers that “some MOT centres will collect your vehicle, carry out an MOT, and return it if you’re being shielded. Contact your local MOT centres to find out if they offer this service.
As before, one big and contentious issue is tax, as motorists are unable to tax their vehicle without a valid MOT. Back in March those unable to MOT and consequently tax their vehicle due to self-isolation were advised to SORN their vehicles, but there was no advice for the extremely vulnerable who could not get their vehicles MOT’d, yet still required them to go to buy basic necessities. With supermarket delivery slots booked out weeks in advance, and no family nearby, not everyone has the option of completely self-isolating. Again, there is no new recent guidance.
Ultimately, the government advises that “You must not drive your vehicle on the road if the MOT has run out. You can be prosecuted if caught”, with similar rules applying for vehicle tax. It remains something of a grey area.