VEHICLE owners in Britain will be granted a six-month exemption from MOT testing, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced.

All cars, vans and motorcycles will be exempted from needing a test from March 30.

This will allow people to carry on with essential travel during the coronavirus pandemic, the DfT said.

Drivers were warned vehicles must be kept in a roadworthy condition.

Garages will remain open for essential repair work.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We must ensure those on the front line of helping the nation combat Covid-19 are able to do so.

"Given the circumstances I'm granting an MOT temporary exemption so that if your MOT is due from 30th March 2020 you will automatically receive a SIX-month extension. However, you must still keep your car in a roadworthy condition and garages will remain open if you need repairs.

“Allowing this temporary exemption from vehicle testing will enable vital services such as deliveries to continue, front-line workers to get to work, and people to get essential food and medicine.

“Safety is key, which is why garages will remain open for essential repair work.”

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Legislation will be introduced on March 30 which means any vehicle requiring an MOT in the following 12 months will be given a six-month exemption.

In normal circumstances, vehicles must have an MOT on the third anniversary of their registration, and then every 12 months if they are more than three years old.

A number of vehicle parts are checked to ensure they meet legal standards, such as lights, seatbelts, tyres and brakes.

Motorists can be fined up to £1,000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT in Britain.