Northern Ireland plans phased return for driving tests and MOTs

The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland has laid out its plans to introduce “a phased return” of MoT and driver testing services in July.

The agency will reinstate some driver testing services in July for those licence categories “where testing can be done safely in line with Public Health Agency advice and guidance on social distancing requirements”.

This includes motorbike driver testing, planned from 6 July and testing for drivers of buses, tractors, lorry and coach drivers from 20 July.

Driver theory tests remain suspended.

From 20 July, the DVA will resume MoT testing for “priority vehicle groups”, with testing for other vehicles to restart in August.

Testing will only be permitted if it can be done safely and social distancing requirements can be met.

Infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon said the DVA has carried out “a full review of risk assessments and developed new MoT processes that comply with all the published government public health advice and guidance.

“A number of measures have been put in place including a range of exemptions and extensions so that, as far as possible, vehicles can be kept on the road safely and most people can keep driving.”

The minister also announced that new lifts have been installed at 10 test centres to date and the remaining lifts are due to be in place by mid-July.