Centre Brake Light Covered

You are unfortunately correct. The most important stop lamp on the vehicle is not mandatory. Even though it is from the factory fitted and connected. Unfortunately a high percentage of the public cannot work out (for whatever reason) that it is actually a piece of important road safety equipment which could, if kept in good repair, save their expensive vehicle form damage. It is also unfortunate that due to technicality DVSA were forced to treat it as they have, so that members of the public end up thinking it can't be important, and that it is a good idea to get round their problem.

This discussion has reared its head many times over the years going back to the days when the manufacturer ONLY fitted a LENS and no internal components. Most if not all modern day high level stop lamps are thesedays normally fitted and connected.