The government’s new online record system for the MOT test has left thousands of drivers unable to use their cars after glitches are making garages unable to issue valid certificates.
MOT certificates are being switched from paper documents to a cloud-based computer system by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency as part of an ongoing effort to modernise the way it operates.
However, garages say that the system, which uses apps to track MOT data and which will reportedly save the government millions in paper and administration costs, either crashes or runs too slowly.
As a result, garage owners have been forced to turn customers away, leaving potentially thousands of motorists unable to drive as they’re unable to get a valid MOT certificate.
The computer issues, which have affected an unknown number of the 16,000 garages that are currently operating it, are so bad that the DVSA has asked garages to issue old paper certificates instead.
Anthony Marshall, who owns a garage in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, said that he’s been left able to do only one MOT a day thanks to the crash, compared to his average workload of 10.
He said: “I’m basically sat here waiting for the computer to work. It's cost us a fortune already and I'm sure it will cost us more before it's working properly. It's broken down every day since it was installed.”
Other garage owners have complained of similar problems, and said that they can’t get through to either the DVSA’s help desk or software company Kainos which is responsible for the upgrades.
However, DVSA chief executive, Alastair Peoples, said that the government had expected the glitches during the transition phase and has a contingency process in place.
He said: “There is a well-established contingency process in place and all garages can still carry out tests and issue MOT certificates.
“We are bringing in additional resource to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and are sorry for any inconvenience.”
