The MOT test could collapse after the lockdown

If you had to take your MOT test during March and April, you will have found that it was impossible. We have found that the MOT test stations have also ceased operating and that it was not possible to carry out the technical inspection. Normally this would result in a considerable fine if a Civil Guard officer stopped us, but due to the situation caused by the state of alert, there is an extension on the MOT test due date.

But, presumably, soon a de-escalation of the lockdown measures will begin and little by little the various approved centres spread across the Autonomous Communities will start to provide service again. And this, although good news, turns out to be a potentially serious problem. If the MOT stations are normally already overloaded with work, the vehicles that have to take the test from May onwards will be joined by all those that could not take it in March and April.

Millions of vehicles awaiting their MOT test

It is estimated that from 15 March to 10 May, the vehicles pending an MOT test amount to 3.1 million. This will mean that as soon as the MOT stations open, they will begin attending to all these vehicles. But from that date onwards, vehicles that must undergo the technical inspection on a mandatory basis will also need to be attended to. This will raise the number of vehicles pending an MOT test to 5 million.

The mandatory safety measures needed to comply properly with the possibility of coronavirus contagion will make the inspection process slower, so it is expected that a collapse of the MOT station network will occur. To look for a solution to this problem, AECA-ITV, the association that brings together all the service operators, has proposed several measures that will ease the pressure on the MOT system.

Among them is the modification of some points of the inspection to avoid contact between customers and workers, the increase in opening hours to be able to attend to more vehicles and, above all, the postponement of the MOT due date for vehicles that were due to be inspected during the dates covered by the quarantine.

This extension would allow vehicles pending an MOT test to take it until 30 September. According to the proposal, vehicles that could not take the MOT test during March and April will have a new deadline, so that the inspection line is handled in a staggered way.

So don’t worry if you are in this situation. You will be able to have a new date and, even if your MOT is not valid, you will be able to keep driving for a few more months. The new dates will be announced shortly and it will be possible to begin taking the inspection in a staggered way. Just be patient, because the centres that provide this service could be overwhelmed.