The government’s decision to postpone MOTs during coronavirus could spectacularly backfire as more than 11 million cars now require a test over the next three months.

With garage capacity limited, there is now a major rush for vehicles to get their MOT or risk being caught out and fined £1,000. Even worse it could lead to millions of unroadworthy vehicles driving around.

Car owners were given a six-month period of grace during lockdown, with no tests available between the 30th of March and the 1st of August. Kwik Fit who perform millions of MOTs every year says that there are 11.3 million cars due for a test between now and the end of November and that drivers generally leave it till the very last week before trying to book a test. With millions of additional tests required, Kwik Fit say that there could be as many as 4.3 invalid cars without an MOT.

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “The MoT is a vital safety check, but it is something that many drivers leave to the last minute to sort out and in previous years that has left some car owners driving without an MoT.

“The impact of COVID-19 and the MOT extension will make this problem much worse as finding available MoT appointments at short notice will be a lot trickier over the coming months.”

According to the data provided by the national garage chain, drivers in Reading will find it hardest to book an MOT, with demand outweighing supply by up to three times.

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