The suspension of MOTs in Northern Ireland has been lifted despite concerns about the safety of equipment at test centres.
An investigation had earlier this week revealed that 48 out of the 55 vehicle lifts at garages for the National Car Tests (NCT) – the equivalent to the MOT in the UK – were found to be defective.
The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) responsible for NCTs in Northern Ireland had taken the decision to halt testing until it can guarantee the safety of the lifts – and warned it could take weeks, or possibly months, until they are replaced.
However, it has since told motorists their tests will go ahead, though without any checks of the underside of their vehicles.
MOT suspension lifted: Tests of passenger cars in Northern Ireland had been suspended after lifts at garages were found to show signs of cracking and deemed unfit for use
A recent inspection of vehicle lifts at test centres was carried out by the DVA after concerns were raised about their condition.
It found that 87 per cent showed signs of cracking and were deemed unfit for use.
It has since been revealed that these lifts were due to be replaced in June 2020, though the DVA has now asked manufacturer MAHA to fast-track the installation of new equipment.
Until the lifts have been repaired or replaced, all MOT tests of passenger vehicles had been suspended indefinitely from Monday.
However, it has since told customers that they should continue with NCT as normal.
While the replacement of lifts will continue to be investigated, he test will be completed with the omission of the underbody inspection, which will be conducted at a later date when the lifts are returned to use.
Customers will incur no additional costs as part of this process.
Tests for buses and HGVs are continuing as normal.
What was said when NCT was suspended
Lifts used for MOTs in Northern Ireland are provided by one supplier for the DVA.
This is different to the rest of the UK where certified garages can use their own equipment, which is regularly inspected by the the Driver and Vehicle Standard Agency to ensure it is in order.
Paul Duffy, chief executive of the DVA, said each lift would cost £30,000 to £40,000 to replace after an insurance inspector on Monday deemed repairs to cracked lifts were not sufficient.
Mr Duffy has apologised to all those affected but said safety was his priority.
In a statement, he said: ‘To ensure the health and safety of staff and customers, and as a precautionary measure, DVA has suspended all MOT testing for cars and light vehicles with immediate effect. Tests on heavy goods vehicles and buses will continue.
‘The DVA recognises the considerable inconvenience and disruption this will cause for many people and sincerely apologises that it has been unable to rectify this situation more quickly.
‘Given the urgency of this situation, we are asking the public to follow media, social media channels and nidirect for updates. Staff will also be kept fully informed by their centre managers.’
An investigation revealed that 48 out of the 55 vehicle lifts at garages in the country were found to be defective
While the suspension is in place, the DVA will issue MOT exemption certificates to cars that are due to be tested. These will last for four months so motorists are able to drive their vehicles.
However, the exemption certificates will not be issued for four-year-old cars.
That’s because of different MOT rules compared to the rest of the UK where cars are tested for the first time after three years.
In Northern Ireland, a car is first tested after four years.
That means a vehicle due to have its first MOT test will not have a certificate to extend.
Checks of the underside of cars in the NCT in Northern Ireland will be conducted at a later date
Mr Duffy said the heavy goods vehicle lanes at test centres would be used for four-year-old cars, and the DVA would begin processing them on Tuesday.
He added that extended opening hours of centres would be considered to cope with the additional examinations required.
A DVSA spokesman told This is Money that all equipment and lifts used by certified centres in the UK are regularly inspected.
Chris Price, DVSA’s head of MOT policy, told us: ‘DVSA’s priority is helping everyone keep their vehicle safe to drive.
‘MOT Testing in Great Britain is entirely different to Northern Ireland
‘DVSA enforcement staff routinely inspect garages to make sure they are meeting requirements and will not hesitate in taking action if equipment is found to be unsafe.’
You can find out which cars registered in 2016 were most (and least) likely to fail their first MOT test last year in our in-depth report from the weekend.
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