FOR months drivers in Fermanagh have been facing lengthy waits for MOT appointments.
Some drivers have found themselves facing the expiry of their MOT certificate before their test date. This has raised questions as to whether they are covered to drive during the period from the expiration of MOT to the date of their test.
One local woman who was faced with this situation said, “When the letter arrived I went online that evening to book an MOT appointment. At that time the closest appointment I could get was almost two weeks after the expiry date of my current MOT certificate. I rely on my car for work each day so I was wary of the need to have it covered by MOT. After queuing early one morning thankfully I was fortunate enough to secure a cancellation appointment.”
Police issued clarity on the topic after stating that they receive daily calls and messages about MOTs.
The spokesman outlined, “It is an offence to use a vehicle of MOT test age that doesn’t have a current test certificate. PSNI cannot give you extensions.
“It is an offence to drive without an MOT certificate except in three circumstances: You are driving it to the test centre for a test you have already booked. It fails its MOT test and you are driving it away from the test centre to somewhere it can be fixed. It fails its MOT and you are driving it to or from a place where you had arranged for it to be fixed.”
The spokesman warned, “Without a valid MOT, your insurance policy may be invalidated. You could consider going to another MOT centre.”
A spokesman for the Department for Infrastructure explained the main factor giving rise to increase in MOT booking times has been an unprecedented, sharp increase in applications for tests.
According to the Department additional staff have been recruited and the Enniskillen Test Centre has opened on Sundays to help address the backlog.
“Further MOT appointments will be available for the remaining Sundays throughout August and on the bank holiday in August, to address the current backlog in applications. Additional slots will continue to be released on a daily basis as and when they become available.”
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