The Lemon Fool

You may see ads or notices in the world of social media about beating the rush for an MoT now that the extensions are running out, details here from DVSA in their blog to us Testers:

https://mattersoftesting.blog.gov.uk/ga ... -campaign/

Remember, MoTs will be hard to come by as we will be doubling up on our workload - the ones due as per normal, plus the ones on an extension that is running out. Think I may be overstating things? In March I did 97 tests, but it took all of April, May, June and half of July combined to reach that number. If you are currently on an extended ticket please, please get in there sharpish, 'cos we are already taking bookings for the end of September .....

Oh, and by the by, I am already seeing the results of running extended and they ain't pretty (unless you are looking at the bottom line of our monthly report from the accountants!)

MoTMork

For guidance:

The government has extended MOT expiry dates by six months because of the coronavirus outbreak. This temporary MOT extension applies to cars, vans and motorcycles with MOTs that were due to expire between 30 March and 31 July 2020.

If your vehicle meets these criteria, then your current MOT certificate will be automatically extended by six months. This will be done about seven days before your certificate is due to expire.

https://www.halfords.com/mot/advice/mot ... ained.html

I don't see any need to rush.

richfool wrote:For guidance:

The government has extended MOT expiry dates by six months because of the coronavirus outbreak. This temporary MOT extension applies to cars, vans and motorcycles with MOTs that were due to expire between 30 March and 31 July 2020.

If your vehicle meets these criteria, then your current MOT certificate will be automatically extended by six months. This will be done about seven days before your certificate is due to expire.

https://www.halfords.com/mot/advice/mot ... ained.html

I don't see any need to rush.

So an MOT which was due to expire on 30 March was automatically extended to 30 Spetember. Also due in September are the MOTs which were already due to expire in September. This doubling up (ignoring those who got their vehicles tested as sson as they could once their dealer reopened) will affect all MOTs in September to January, won't it?

I don't understand what the problem is......
The simple act of booking an MOT test well in advance will solve everything. I booked my MOT for September 14th on June 8th.

richlist wrote:I don't understand what the problem is......
The simple act of booking an MOT test well in advance will solve everything. I booked my MOT for September 14th on June 8th.

You wouldn't be saying that if most of the other people with MOTs due in September had booked them on June 1st though

Those who leave it until the last minute might be without a car for a while.

Julian F. G. W.

As my MOT was due on 30th July, I have a few months yet (until 30th January, by my calculations), and a local garage that does MOT's and can fit customers within a few days. So I see no rush or panic.

jfgw wrote:

richlist wrote:I don't understand what the problem is......
The simple act of booking an MOT test well in advance will solve everything. I booked my MOT for September 14th on June 8th.

You wouldn't be saying that if most of the other people with MOTs due in September had booked them on June 1st though

Those who leave it until the last minute might be without a car for a while.

Julian F. G. W.

But most other people hadn't booked that far in advance.
Thats what I suspected and that's why I took the trouble to do it.
All that's required is a little bit of forward planning......& that applies to many other aspects of life as well. It's really not rocket science is it ?

richlist wrote:But most other people hadn't booked that far in advance.
Thats what I suspected and that's why I took the trouble to do it.
All that's required is a little bit of forward planning......& that applies to many other aspects of life as well. It's really not rocket science is it ?

So you're agreeing with the sentiment in the OP? Or did you have another point to make?

Scott.

@Richlist, elementary queuing theory suggests that if demand exceeds capacity, you will get queues. And doing 8 months tests in 4 months will lead to queues if the centres can't double the number of tests they normally do, and the queues will be longest at the end of December. Queues have developed across the whole of society during lockdown, and while the NHS ones are most likely to kill people, and slowest to clear because there is very little excess capacity, the MOT is unusual because failure to get it done stops you using the service at all.

Saying I'm all right Jack is not an answer.

Northern Ireland have plans to extend MOTs into 2021 to flatten the curve, we shall see if England sees similar sense as the queues mount here. I hope the DOT have done modelling and decided the system can cope, but it seems that current government are poor at listening to experts who flag up problems.

With a MOT due in Mid-November, I expect I'll be hitting the peak, possibly with a new national lockdown to complicate things. Thanks @MonsterMork for raising the issue, I hope he keeps us informed over the next few months.

I think it's fair to say that most people normally book their MOT a short time before it's due.

My garage reminded me this morning that my MOT is due on 22 September. I have just called my garage and they offered me a date of 14 September with a choice of times, so no problem here. Semi rural north central Scotland.

Dod

I had mine done in the middle of July. If I keep the same car, I suspect that I will find it very easy to get it booked in next time.


Julian F. G. W.

bluedonkey wrote:I think it's fair to say that most people normally book their MOT a short time before it's due.

Exactly, and if they do that they will likely find themselves in a long queue as the OP has suggested.
Not planning ahead isn't really that difficult, is it ?
But I guess it can be incredible annoying & problematic for you if you do book it late.

My car was extended to 31/1. I booked a test a couple of weeks ago and it is being done on Thursday.

richlist wrote:Not planning ahead isn't really that difficult, is it ?

Take 100 marbles and 50 bowls. Place one marble in each bowl such that you have no marbles left.

Hint: If you have any marbles left over after the first attempt, repeat the process but "plan ahead" by placing the previously left over marbles into bowls first.

Planning ahead does not solve the overall problem.


Julian F. G. W.

Oh, ok I must have got it wrong.
I thought the problem was trying to ensure you weren't at the back of the queue.
Planning ahead......forget it. Just tag onto the back of the line if that's what you want.

My car's last date for MOT was May 25, or thereabouts so I am eligible for the 6 months extension as far as Nov 27. Last week I approached my small independant garage to discuss this and agreed a date of November 2, which means, I understand, that the effective date (provided it passes) will be the 27th.

In passing, my garage man casually mentioned that he was now down to just one MOT tester - himself. Not that that affected the timing of the test.

ten0rman

There seems to be another 'knock on' effect.

The small places that do MOTs and servicing are now flat out on MOT catchups so they have no time for other work

Paul