To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether consideration has been given to providing motorists with increased advance notice to book their MOT test, in light of the current backlog.

The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) has steadily increased its vehicle testing capacity by adopting a range of measures including the recruitment of additional vehicle examiners, the use of overtime to provide cover for leave and sick absence and a reduction of the vehicle test appointment time. The DVA is also offering vehicle test appointments on a Sunday and bank holidays, at most test centres. Following conversion of an adjoining building at the Newbuildings test centre, additional testing capacity is now available to meet demand in the north-west.

From 1 September to 31 December 2021, the DVA conducted 264,540 full vehicle tests, which is 8% more than the five-year average for those months. The DVA is monitoring the applications received and tests carried out and expect waiting times to reduce over time through the actions they have taken to increase vehicle testing capacity across the network.

The DVA currently issues reminder letters 6 weeks in advance of a vehicle’s MOT expiry date. The reminder letter encourages customers to book an MOT appointment as early as possible, which may mean having to travel to another test centre instead of their preferred location. The reminder letter also includes an advice leaflet, which sets out the position for those customers who may not be able to get their vehicles tested before the current MOT expires, due to the high demand for vehicle testing services at this time. This advice is also available on the NI Direct website.

The DVA will consider whether to extend the reminder letter notification period at the end of February, on the assumption that the COVID pandemic will have reached a more manageable position by that stage.