New lift installed at Derry’s MOT test centre at Newbuildings
They had already been purchased from the same company that provided NI’s other 55 lifts.
Most MoT tests for cars and light vehicles in the North of Ireland have been suspended with immediate effect.
It followed an inspection of vehicle lifts in NI’s MoT centres that detected “signs of cracking” in 48 out of 55 lifts.
As of Tuesday, more than 7,000 MoT tests had been cancelled.
Speaking on Wednesday, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said the two new lifts – one in Belfast and one in Newbuildings in Derry – “will allow us to increase capacity, get to those priority motorists and start to address the backlog”.
She said the lifts would be independently assessed before being put into operation in Belfast and Newbuildings.
Ms Mallon said she was also conscious that people with four-year-old vehicles were concerned that their cars may be clamped if they are not taxed.
“DVA is not responsible for clamping vehicles, it is the DVLA which is a separate agency,” she said.
“But my department has been in close contact with them, we are making it clear that no-one should be penalised for a situation not of their making – very close to the position and assurances that we were able to obtain from the Association of British Insurers.”
The minister said that car dealerships were also being affected by the MoT problems, as they were trying to sell four-year-old cars.
“I have said to DVA officials that I want the car dealers to be expedited and prioritised in terms of getting brand new appointments,” she said.
“They should be getting proactively contacted by DVA, they should be getting appointments.
Apicture of a crack in a lift at one of the vehicle test centres in the North of Ireland obtained by BBC NI News
Meanwhile, the PSNI have set out their position on the MoT cancellations.
In their statement, police said: “Driving without vehicle tax is not prosecuted by PSNI and is the remit of DVLA.
“Where a police officer detects a vehicle without tax and it is outside of the 14-day grace period provided in the legislation, a referral is made to the DVLA.
“Given these exceptional circumstances, where PSNI detects a vehicle without a valid MoT certificate, providing the vehicle is in a roadworthy condition, officers would be encouraged to exercise discretion.”
MoT exemption certificates lasting four months will be issued so motorists are able to drive.
However, these cannot be issued for four-year-old cars or taxis.
This is because four-year-old cars have never been through an MoT test before, meaning they do not have a certificate to extend, while taxis are covered by different legislation.
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