Northern Ireland announces biennial MOT testing consultation
The Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland has announced a consultation on biennial MOT testing.
The consultation, which will run until 16 April, will gather industry and public feedback on the proposal to extend the gap between MOTs from one year to two years.
There has been an MOT crisis in Northern Ireland ever since the pandemic, with operational challenges and long backlogs.
Under current regulations in NI, private cars and motorcycles are first MOT tested at four years old and light goods vehicles under 3,500kg are first tested at three years old. These requirements will remain unchanged. However, the consultation is seeking input on the possibility of changing the testing frequency to once every two years thereafter.
MOT delays
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd said: “This consultation presents options for MOT test frequency as well as considering road safety, environmental impact, insurance premiums, and the potential impact on the local automotive industry.
“I introduced Temporary Exemption Certificates for five and seven-year-old cars within specified date ranges. It is hoped that this, along with the recruitment of new staff and the use of overtime on Sundays and Bank Holidays, when vehicle testing is not normally conducted, will be able to reduce average waiting times for an MOT to 30 days.”
Sue Robinson, chief executive of The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), said: “NFDA-NI welcomes the Department for Infrastructure’s launch of a consultation on biennial MOT testing. The consultation comes amid the ongoing MOT testing crisis in the region, which remains critical and continues to negatively impact consumers and dealers in equal measure.
“The consultation offers an opportunity for the industry to contribute further insight into the current MOT regime. NFDA-NI will be preparing its response over the next few weeks on behalf of its members. NFDA-NI remains steadfast in its belief that Northern Ireland deserves an MOT regime that is fit for purpose.”
