Motoristsmay now receive free duplicate MOT certificates for their car or van through anew online service.
Theservice has the potential to save drivers £6 million each year.
Ifthe original document was lost or destroyed and you required a replacement, saywhen selling a car, you had to go to a test centre and pay £10 for a new one.
InEngland, Scotland, and Wales, almost 636,000 duplicate MOT certifications wereissued in 2018. That amounts to around 2% of all MOT tests performed each year.
Thisanswers the question 'are MOTs online now?' as the new service allowscar owners to read and download their MOT certificate in PDF format, as well asprint a copy if necessary.
http://www.gov.uk/replace-mot-certificateprovides access to the service. You'll need your vehicle's registration numberas well as the 11-digit reference number from its V5C logbook to utilise it.
The11-digit reference is not required if you only want to view and print the MOThistory of a vehicle. Please note, this will not be in a certificateversion as for that you do require the 11-digit reference number from the V5Clogbook.
"Werealised there was a need to make acquiring copies simpler based on feedbackfrom motorists — having to physically go to garages was considered as a bighassle," said Grant Thunder, MOT testing service product expert atthe DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency).
"Longerterm, we aim to assist drivers realise that they don't always need the formalcertificate. However, we were hearing that there needs to be a better way toobtain a duplicate in the meanwhile."
Themove, according to Roads Minister Jesse Norman, is "part of a governmentaim to keep costs down for motorists and eliminate needless obstacles togetting out and about safely."
Theservice will have all current and past MOT status certifications issuedfrom 20th May 2018, including both passes and failures.
MOT centres can still provide duplicate certificates
Despitethe fact that motorists may now obtain a free duplicate of their MOTcertificate online, MOT centres will continue to provide this service to thosewho want it. Search online for MOT Reading and schedule an appointmentto have this request completed.
Fora duplicate certificate, you can still be charged up to £10.
Duplicatescan still be provided to any customer who has a right to one. They can provideyou with one of the following as proof:
1. The most recent vehicle logbook’s registration and 11-digit reference number (V5C)
2. The original certificate's test number (although it's unlikely they'll have this if they've misplaced it!)
Motorists are being protected against illegitimate websites.
Severalinternet firms have been known to charge consumers for bogus MOT certifications.
TheDVSA have not granted any of these firms a licence or any other type ofapproval to issue these phoney certifications.
Peoplewill be able to get duplicates for free from the official government websitethanks to our new service.
Thegovernment will be able to take action against such unauthorised sitesafter that, and the online availability of correct certificates should lowerdemand for unofficial certificates.
