The Infrastructure Minister is being urged to provide urgent clarity and assurances to Northern Ireland motorists facing lengthy delays in getting MOT tests.
MOT test centres across the province are still struggling to tackle huge backlogs of drivers seeking appointments.
The delays are due to a combination of Covid shutdowns and equipment issues - MOT tests were suspended in January 2020 after concerns emerged over cracks in lift equipment.
Read more: MOT Northern Ireland: What to do if you're struggling to get an appointment
This has left many drivers facing long waits for appointments and they are often unable to get their vehicles tested before their current MOT certificate expires.
In some cases, motorists are waiting for up to six months and travelling hundreds of miles to secure an appointment.
Cars are due their first MOT after four years.
The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) has said it is still experiencing "significant demand" for vehicle testing services as MOT centres across Northern Ireland continue to tackle the backlog in appointments.
Ulster Unionist MLA, John Stewart says the Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd must review the issue urgently.
The party's Infrastructure spokesperson said: “The situation facing motorists with regard to MOT test delays is simply not acceptable and action must be taken now.
“Many people trying to get a test date are facing delays of literally months and are at serious risk of being unable to get their vehicles tested before their current MOT certificates expire.
“People are worried that their insurance might be invalidated if they were to be in an accident in a vehicle that has not passed an MOT. Furthermore, cars cannot be taxed without a valid MOT certificate.
“None of this is the fault of any motorist and it is totally unfair that they should be the ones penalised for a situation which is not of their making and over which they have no control.
“Motorists both require and deserve clarity and assurances as to how they stand legally and the Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd needs to urgently tell the public what plans he is putting in place to address these unacceptable delays.”
In response, a spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said the DVA has steadily increased its vehicle testing capacity to pre-Covid levels by adopting a range of measures including the recruitment of additional vehicle examiners, the use of overtime to provide cover for leave and by offering vehicle test appointments on a Sunday and bank holidays when testing is not normally available.
As of August 3, almost 231,000 vehicles have a vehicle test booking appointment up to 30 November, and around 80,000 further appointment slots are available across the DVA's network of test centres for the same period.
The DVA does not currently hold information to enable it to accurately report the average waiting times for vehicle tests given that this position changes on a regular basis.
The DfI spokesperson added that the DVA release a number of appointments on a daily basis and drivers are encouraged to check on the booking system for any cancellations.
They also advise that if motorists get to within five days of the expiry date of their vehicle tax and haven't got an appointment, they should contact the customer service team to get an urgent appointment.
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