The Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA) has will resume HGV testing from 4 July 2020. To help manage the demand as testing is resumed the DVSA have issued three-month exemptions for vehicles due to be tested in June and will issue further exemptions for July. In a statement, the DVSA said: “In August, vehicles which have already received an exemption will need a test. “All other vehicles due for a test in August will receive a three-month exemption. When those exemptions expire, vehicles will need to be brought in for test. We are working with ATFs to resume testing from 4 July and will be increasing the availability of testers over the coming months, in line with social distancing and the latest government guidance." “ADR inspections will also be available from 4 July. Vehicle operators carrying dangerous goods who do not book an annual test should apply for a waiver, if they want their annual test and ADR inspection expiry dates to occur at the same time.” It added: “We will not be able to restart testing at some of our sites in Scotland immediately. Further information will be provided to those ATFs.” Operators should note that testing in July will not be at full capacity and the DVSA will advise ATFs on how to prioritise MOT test appointments. For any operator confused about what exemptions apply the DVSA have published a table to help on GOV.UK.

Month MOT due	Date vehicle must pass MOT	Reason
March 2020	30 September 2020	Two 3-month exemptions
April 2020	31 October 2020	Two 3-month exemptions
May 2020	31 August 2020	One 3-month exemption
June 2020	30 September 2020	One 3-month exemption
July 2020	31 October 2020	One 3-month exemption
August 2020	30 November 2020	One 3-month exemption

It has often been reported that around 85% of roadside prohibitions could have been avoided if a vehicle safety check had taken place. With MOT exemptions it is even more important to ensure that vehicles are kept in a roadworthy condition. The first step is to  make sure that driver vehicle safety check are conducted and any faults recorded before any vehicle is driven. Using a vehicle safety check app such as SmartCheck gives operators reassurance that checks are actually conducted as it records the time, duration and location of the vehicle check. Faults can be recorded and reported in real-time to be consistent with COVID-19 social distancing requirements and personal safety.

Find out more about SmartCheck, driver vehicle safety checks.