Fermanagh vehicle owners unable to book a MOT in Enniskillen prior to their MOT expiration date are being told by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) that they "must book the earliest available test appointment for their vehicle", which may mean travelling as far away as Ballymena, Downpatrick or Mallusk.

The Impartial Reporter has received a number of reports from people who have been unable to book an MOT in Enniskillen before their current MOT expires.

For example, one individual – whose MOT expires on February 17 – told this newspaper that the earliest MOT slot in Enniskillen that they could book was for May 6.

When asked what they would advise people in this situation to do, a Department for Infrastructure spokesperson responded: "The DVA is currently experiencing significant demand for vehicle testing services and in some cases customers may not be able to have their vehicles tested before their current MOT certificate expires.

"In such cases, customers must book the earliest available test appointment for their vehicle, which may mean travelling to another test centre instead of their preferred location."

According to the DfI spokesperson, as of January 31, the DVA has confirmed just over 55,000 vehicle test appointments were available across its network of centres up to May 31.

Centres include Balmoral, Enniskillen, Ballymena, Cookstown, Lisburn, Downpatrick, Mallusk, Newry and Omagh.

The DfI spokesperson continued: "The DVA releases vehicle test appointments on a daily basis and customers are encouraged to regularly check the booking system, as they are able to change existing appointments to a different test centre and time if a slot becomes available."

In response to this newspaper's question asking if due to the backlog, is there a grace period for motorists whose MOT has expired because they couldn't get a MOT booked prior to that expiry, the DfI spokesperson said that from July 26, 2022, normal vehicle test times have been reinstated and Temporary Exemption Certificates are no longer being applied.

"From September 1 to December 31, 2021, the DVA conducted 264,540 full vehicle tests, which is 8 per cent more than the five-year average for those months.

“The DVA has consulted with the PSNI and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) to make them aware of the current position.

"The PSNI has agreed not to penalise the driver of a vehicle whose MOT has expired, so long as the vehicle is in a roadworthy and safe condition, the vehicle is properly insured, and the driver can provide proof – by showing an MOT appointment notification, either in electronic or paper form – that a test appointment has been booked for the vehicle.

"The ABI view is that not having a valid MOT certificate would not necessarily invalidate your insurance, but if you are in that situation due to delays to vehicle testing in Northern Ireland, then it is important to check your policy documents or speak to your insurer.

"However, it is a condition of insurance that owners maintain their vehicles in a roadworthy condition.

“Customers must therefore book a vehicle test appointment as soon as possible, even if it is after their current MOT expiry date.

"All other offences relating to vehicle road-worthiness and insurance will be dealt with by the PSNI and DVA enforcement officers in the usual manner."

However, the DfI spokesperson highlighted that Vehicle Excise Duty (Motor Tax) is an excepted matter which is administered and enforced by the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea on behalf of HM Treasury.

"The Department has no authority or influence with the DVLA on these matters," said the DfI spokesperson.

The DVA’s advice to customers who need to tax or insure their vehicle, and cannot secure a MOT date before their MOT expires, is to book the earliest available appointment or keep checking the booking system for an appointment before their MOT expires.

“If they get to within five days of their MOT expiry date, contact dva.customerservices@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk, and the DVA will do their best to secure an urgent appointment for their vehicle.

“Any customer requiring an MOT to tax their vehicle will be given priority.”

A DVLA spokesperson confirmed that in the Fermanagh area, 11 cars were clamped due to no motor tax on January 23, and nine were clamped on January 24. Of those, 14 paid the fine and had their vehicles released.

"Where a vehicle has not been taxed and the keeper has not declared it off the road (SORN), we can take enforcement action.

"Also if an untaxed or SORN vehicle is seen on the public road, enforcement action can be taken.

"Information on how to appeal a DVLA penalty is available at www.gov.uk/appeal-dvla-fine," the DVLA spokesperson told this newspaper.