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07/03/2025
MOT Temporary Exemption Certificates Extended For Another Year
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced the extension of temporary exemption certificates (TECs) for certain private cars into 2025-26, aiming to alleviate MOT waiting times.
The minister has prolonged the use of TECs for five and seven-year-old private cars, enabling eligible motorists to legally drive their vehicles, provided they are roadworthy, taxed, and insured.
The introduction of TECs, initially approved by former DfI Minister John O’Dowd in April 2024, was prompted by increased demand for vehicle testing and delays in the opening of the Hydebank test centre. This measure has successfully reduced MOT waiting times from over 100 days at the end of May 2024 to approximately 30 days in early February 2025.
Vehicle licensing data indicates that around 107,000 cars may qualify for a TEC under the extension, which will be processed automatically by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA).
Minister Kimmins stated: "TECs have helped to significantly reduce waiting times for MOTs. This extension will allow the DVA to continue to manage the increased demand for MOTs until new testing facilities at Hydebank and Mallusk are open for vehicle testing. These centres will provide the capacity to test more than 200,000 additional vehicles annually."
The DVA has also taken steps to maximise testing capacity at its 15 existing test centres through recruitment and overtime. "From 1 April 2024 to 31 January 2025, the DVA conducted 956,759 vehicle tests, compared with 942,789 for the same period in 2023-24. In 2024, there were only six days when the DVA did not offer MOT appointments," the Minister added.
She emphasised that while TECs have improved service delivery and minimised risks to road safety, "as road users we all have a personal responsibility to behave in a way that keeps ourselves and others safe and, regardless of TECs, it remains our responsibility to ensure our cars are in a roadworthy condition by getting them serviced."
The minister has prolonged the use of TECs for five and seven-year-old private cars, enabling eligible motorists to legally drive their vehicles, provided they are roadworthy, taxed, and insured.
The introduction of TECs, initially approved by former DfI Minister John O’Dowd in April 2024, was prompted by increased demand for vehicle testing and delays in the opening of the Hydebank test centre. This measure has successfully reduced MOT waiting times from over 100 days at the end of May 2024 to approximately 30 days in early February 2025.
Vehicle licensing data indicates that around 107,000 cars may qualify for a TEC under the extension, which will be processed automatically by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA).
The DVA has also taken steps to maximise testing capacity at its 15 existing test centres through recruitment and overtime. "From 1 April 2024 to 31 January 2025, the DVA conducted 956,759 vehicle tests, compared with 942,789 for the same period in 2023-24. In 2024, there were only six days when the DVA did not offer MOT appointments," the Minister added.
She emphasised that while TECs have improved service delivery and minimised risks to road safety, "as road users we all have a personal responsibility to behave in a way that keeps ourselves and others safe and, regardless of TECs, it remains our responsibility to ensure our cars are in a roadworthy condition by getting them serviced."
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The Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA) today revealed that waiting times for MOT tests have come down significantly since the summer and are now back on track. Chief Executive Stanley Duncan said he was pleased with the progress made and that it had been a tough period for customers and staff who have had to cope with a massive surge in demand.
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Alliance Calls For Reintroduction Of MOT Temporary Exemption Certificates
Alliance has called on the Department for Infrastructure to bring back use of temporary exemption certificates (TECs) to cope with the current backlog of MOT tests currently plaguing the system.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
