British drivers are still putting safety before saving money, according to car selling comparison website Motorway.co.uk .
It requested MOT test data from the DVSA for April and May after the Government granted a six month MOT extension from 30 March 2020.
Any motorists with an MOT due from 30 March have automatically been given a six-month extension. However, vehicles still have to be kept in a roadworthy condition, with garages remaining open for essential repair works.
Llandrindod Wells experienced a 71.1% drop in test numbers last month, the fourth biggest in Britain while Swansea recorded 68.7% decline, the eighth steepest in the UK.
Alex Buttle, director of the car selling comparison website said, “More than two million motorists have now chosen not to postpone their MOT tests since the government announced the extension at the end of March. And twice as many took their cars in last month compared to April.
“However, MOTs were still signficantly down on last year, and that could mean there are a lot of potentially unsafe vehicles on UK roads.
“It does appear as though motorists are putting safety before saving as the number of MOT tests in May shot up compared to the previous month. With lockdown restrictions eased further, and people venturing further from home for days out, general maintenance and safety issues are likely to have been at the forefront of many drivers’ minds.”
He added, “The cost of an MOT test is small compared to the human cost if you’re driving a car that has a serious fault or defect, and many of us have our vehicles serviced at the same time as the MOT, which could flag up mechanical and safety issues that need to be addressed urgently.
“For those motorists with older vehicles, which tend to be more susceptible to problems due to wear and tear, they might be wise to stick to their original MOT date to give it a full check and service. It will give them the peace of mind that it’s in good condition and mechanically sound at the present time.
”And if owners are looking to protect the value of their car for selling in the future, then a heavily-delayed MOT may be an issue for some buyers.”