Northern Ireland

DVA: Motorists should attend MOT tests despite vehicle lift problems

The Drive & Vehicle Agency (DVA) has said motorists should attend MOT tests as usual unless they are contacted and told otherwise, following an fault issue with vehicle lifts at test centres
The Drive & Vehicle Agency (DVA) has said motorists should attend MOT tests as usual unless they are contacted and told otherwise, following an fault issue with vehicle lifts at test centres The Drive & Vehicle Agency (DVA) has said motorists should attend MOT tests as usual unless they are contacted and told otherwise, following an fault issue with vehicle lifts at test centres

The Drive & Vehicle Agency (DVA) has said motorists should attend MOT tests as usual unless they are contacted and told otherwise after a fault issue with vehicle lifts at test centres was discovered.

The agency said yesterday that following "the identification of faults" they are carrying out checks on vehicle lifts at MOT centres.

As a result, limited tests are being carried out at most MOT centres and appointments are being rescheduled while inspections and any needed repairs are completed.

However, the DVA said motorists should attend MOT appointments as usual unless they are contacted.

A DVA spokesman said: "It is anticipated that these inspections will be completed today and any necessary repairs will be carried out as soon as possible. As and when test centres have been inspected and any necessary repairs completed, they will immediately become operational.

"Mallusk is the only test centre not carrying out car and light vehicle tests; heavy goods vehicles and bus tests remain unaffected. DVA is making every effort to contact customers to reschedule appointments and will prioritise customers who require an immediate test.

"All other test centres remain open and customers should attend their MOT appointment unless contacted by DVA".

Andrew Muir, Alliance Infrastructure spokesman, said the DVA may need to consider extending opening hours in order to deal with a backlog of tests.

"It is understandable that some test centres have had to close and others have restricted the number of tests they can carry out while potential faults are examined, but I am calling on the Minister to give some clarity to motorists whose vehicles are due a test," he said.

"Obviously the safety of staff and motorists attending the centres is paramount, but we need clarity on whether or not vehicles whose test has been cancelled are legally allowed on the roads.

"When repairs to the test centre equipment have been completed, there will obviously be a backlog of tests to be carried out and the Driver and Vehicle Agency may need to consider extending the opening hours of centres to get up to date".