July/August 2020

NEWS 4 AFTERMARKET JULY/AUGUST 2020 www.aftermarketonline.net The future of the MOT extension may be a short one, following the decision by the DVSA to end a parallel arrangement for HGVs. This has raised expectations for an imminent announcement, as statistics have shown over two million drivers have still sought MOTs despite the testing holiday. Similar to the extension for cars, HGVs were given a three-month extension as a result of lockdown. This is to be lifted from Saturday 4 July. The DVSA announced the change on Friday 19 June, and it led to speculation that testing on cars is also set to return. Commenting on the restart of HGV MOTs in a statement, the DVSA said: “From 4 July, we are restarting testing for heavy vehicles. We have issued a 3-months exemption for vehicles due to be tested in June and will issue further exemptions for July tests. This will help us manage demand as we resume testing. 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.” With lockdown easing and traffic levels rising, industry bodies, including the IGA, IAAF and GEA have increasingly called on government to lift the car MOT extension due to concerns over the impact on road safety, and the likelihood of a major backlog if the extension runs all the way through to the autumn. It has also emerged that around five million fewer MOT tests have taken place this year so far, compared with 2019, as a result of the extension. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by comparison website Motorway .co.uk has shown that 2,153,768 MOT tests have been carried out since the extension kicked in. Over the same period in 2019, there were 7,166,056 tests performed. Commenting on the figures, Motoway .co.uk Director Alex Buttle said: “More than two million motorists have now chosen not to postpone their MOT tests since the government announced the extension at the end of March. Twice as many took their cars in last month compared to April. “However, MOTs were still significantly down on last year, and that could mean there are a lot of potentially unsafe vehicles on UK roads. It does appear as though motorists are putting safety before saving as the number of MOT tests in May shot up compared to the previous month.” Alex added:” With lockdown restrictions eased further, and people venturing further from home for days out, general maintenance and safety issues are likely to have been at the forefront of many drivers’ minds.” For more on the MOT, turn to our feature on pages 38-39. MOT: Is the six-month extension about to be terminated? Snap-on: Massive centennial giveaway Snap-on has hit the century mark this year, and to celebrate this milestone, the company is giving away an incredible £100,000 of free ATL aftercare support and emissions analysers for 100 lucky customers. Snap-on’s ATL dual revenue bay incorporates MOT testing with wheel alignment capabilities, to give workshops two possible income streams in one unit. Garages looking to buy Snap-on’s dual revenue ATL bay, complete with five-year routine maintenance and calibration package, will now get a free DGA5000 emissions analyser and free five-year parts and labour warranty worth over £10,000. Only 100 of these bays are available. When they are gone, they are gone. To find out more call direct to Snap-on’s National Sales Manager on 07880 007803 or alternatively, visit: diagnostics.snapon.co.uk/centennial-offer