JOEPRO
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There was always a few weeks wait for an MOT appt over here. Then they discovered structural damage in the car lifts during their annual inspection that condemned all the lifts in most testing centres. Most were closed for a few months until new lifts were installed.
Vehicle owners were all issued with a letter that enabled them to use their vehicles without a valid mot provided they were in a roadworthy condition.
Then covid happened & that screwed things up completely, they were closed for months.
At the minute it would be at least 6 months if you want to get a mot appt at a local test centre. But you can't apply for one until you get the letter telling you that your mot is running out, usually 8 weeks before the expiry date.
What you must do by law is take the first available appointment, even if it is a test centre 100 miles away! Then to get a local appt you need to keep checking their web booking page every morning to get either a cancellation or one of the extra appts that they release in batches. They are usually at odd times like 7am or on weekends.
If you have an appt booked you are covered to drive, even if the mot has expired. You need to keep a printed copy of your booking to show plod if you get stopped.
Yes that's a good summary of events!
I find there is a great selection of cancellations available though. I booked mine for July as earliest date a few days ago. Then immediately looked for a cancellation and easily found a number of them.
I'd say I could have waited until Sunday morning for example and still got one if I am willing to drive.
Most of my cars are classics which have had no MOT for a year or more so I don't think the exemption applies to me! At least I'm not assuming it does.