much more than a quarter of a million MoT tests took place in Britain in April 2020, despite a six-month grace period having been implemented.
There were 746,157 MoT tests in April 2020, despite all cars, motorbikes and light vans that were due a test on or after 30 March being given an automatic six-month MoT extension because of coronavirus. The total number of tests was down 80 per cent compared with the 3,723,524 tests seen in March, though.

MoT test checklist: top suggestions to help your car pass first time

The data, which comes from the DVSA (Driver and car standards Agency) through a freedom of information request made by car-selling comparison site Motorway.co.uk, shows Perth in Scotland was the postal area with the most significant decrease in MoT tests, seeing an 85.7 per cent drop, from 11,535 in March, to 1,654 in April. Inverness was second, with an 85.6 per cent fall over the same period, followed by Carlisle, which saw an 84.5 per cent decline in MoT testing.
Advertisement – short article continues below

The DVSA recently updated its assistance to clarify that cars that fail their MoT after being evaluated automatically lose the six-month extension, and should be repaired and pass an MoT before being allowed back on the road.
PostcodePostal AreaMoTs – March 2020MoTs – April 2020Percentage drop in test numbers
PHPerth11,5351,65485.7 per cent
IVInverness16,4192,36985.6 per cent
CACarlisle22,3173,45684.5 per cent
LDLlandrindod Wells3,37052984.3 per cent
PAPaisley17,5422,76584.2 per cent
CHChester42,7347,00583.6 per cent
SASwansea49,0748,22983.2 per cent
SYShrewsbury25,4954,30483.1 per cent
UBSouthall17,7172,99683.1 per cent
BRBromley13,8462,34383.1 per cent

In contrast, the UK’s second-largest city, Birmingham, was the postal area that saw the most MoT tests conducted in April 2020 – some 21,324 took place. Sheffield was second, followed by Nottingham.
PostcodePostal AreaMoTs – April 2020
BBirmingham21,324
SSheffield18,170
NGNottingham15,115
BSBristol14,246
PEPeterborough12,988

Alex Buttle, director of Motorway.co.uk, commented: “These figures from the DVSA show that despite motorists having the opportunity to postpone their MoT test, numerous have chosen not to do so. There could be a number of reasons why, with general car maintenance, ongoing value and safety issues likely at the forefront of numerous drivers’ minds.”
He added: “From a cost point of view, cash-strapped car owners might consider delaying their MoT for the full six months, but the reality is that the cost of a test is small compared to the human cost if you’re driving a car that has a major fault or defect.”
Has your MoT been impacted by coronavirus? let us know in the comments below…