Matt Peacock, MD of Star Tech, Poole, advises motorists to beat the rush this autumn by planning your MOT ahead of time.

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Let’s admit it, when we heard our cars could go a little longer due to the MOT extension, most owners did a little jump for joy. After all, it’s easily comparable to a trip to the dentist!

However, the government’s initiative to soften the Covid crisis for car owners didn’t come without its drawbacks.

Many cars have been driven in an unroadworthy condition as a result, putting owners and other road users lives at risk.

Small maintenance jobs that were needed have evolved to become larger repairs as they were neglected early on.

Furthermore, there is a now a new problem facing car owners and they are wise to take heed.

As lockdown eased, vehicles that were due for their Mot from August 1, 2020 were not granted an extension.

The DVSA is now advising owners to book ahead of time in the coming months as MOT testing centres are reaching bursting point.

We really can’t stress this enough as everyone who has been extended – plus those already due at their normal times – are resulting in huge demands on busy testing stations.

With three-year-old car registrations having their first MOT this month, too, the DVSA is predicting that September, October and November will push the situation to the limit.

If your car is due, then do plan ahead in advance and don’t leave it until the last minute.

Here at Star Tech we can arrange your MOT and send out monthly due date reminder letters to all of our customers.

Ensuring these are delivered earlier than usual is a priority at present so that our customers don’t get caught out.

We specialise in Mercedes Benz, BMW, Smart, Mini and Jaguar but if you own another brand, please feel free to contact our service team for advice on when your vehicle’s MOT is due.

We have access to this information if you are unsure or you can check for yourself here at GOV.UK

As you are probably aware, if your MOT runs out you are in a very difficult situation, driving illegally, facing heavy fines and uninsured as a result.

Don’t forget, you can get your MOT carried out with us up to a month (minus a day) before your due date.

Contact our team on 01202 694758 to book or for more advice.