A tester needs to sit in the car during the diesel emissions rev test as a straightforward health and safety measure. Sitting properly in the car, rather than leaning in with just one foot on the accelerator, means the tester is in full control if the handbrake isn’t properly applied or the car’s accidentally left in gear. There have been rare cases where a car has moved off on its own during this part of the diesel emissions rev test because the tester wasn’t fully in the driving seat. It’s a small habit, but it protects both the tester and everyone else nearby, and it’s a habit every MOT emissions testing compliance culture should insist on. (Read More)

If connected MOT equipment loses its link to the DVSA, testing may continue for a limited window provided the equipment is otherwise working correctly. DVSA’s Section B guidance allows testing to continue for up to 7 calendar days from when the fault began. After that, you can’t keep testing any vehicle that requires that equipment unless DVSA has agreed to an extension. To ask for longer, the authorised examiner needs to email motadministration@dvsa.gov.uk before the 7 days are up, setting out the reason. Regularly checking your test logs is the easiest way to spot a connectivity drop before it turns into a compliance problem. (Read More)

The emission plate value matters in the MOT as it’s the manufacturer’s own figure for that specific vehicle, and it’s what a diesel emissions test should always be measured against where it’s available. If a tester can’t find it and defaults to the standard value instead, that default is set considerably higher than most plate values, which makes the car far more likely to pass even if its emissions genuinely wouldn’t meet the manufacturer’s own limit. Good MOT emissions testing compliance depends on testers making a proper effort to find the real figure, even when it’s hidden away on a sticker in the engine bay or boot, rather than falling back on the easier option. (Read More)

A DVSA assessor will judge your MOT Testing Station from what they see as soon as they walk in the door, and it’s a fair reflection of how things really run. Assessors form an impression the moment they arrive, long before they check a single test record. Triangles outside, a tidy noticeboard, a clean MOT bay and an engaged tester all show that good MOT station compliance is a daily habit, not something rushed together for assessment day. (Read More)

Absolutely! The MOT industry changes faster than a DVSA update email lands in your inbox. From new vehicle tech to updated testing criteria, there’s always something to keep on top of. A trained/qualified MOT Site Manager stays ahead of those changes and helps your whole team adapt without disruption. They know how to lead, how to mentor testers, and how to spot potential issues before they become DVSA problems. It’s not just about compliance, it’s about confidence. When your MOT Site Manager is properly trained, your whole operation runs smoother, your testers feel supported, and your customers trust you more. Simply put: investing in training isn’t a cost – it’s an upgrade to your business. (Read More)

Think of a qualified MOT Site Manager as the conductor of your workshop orchestra. Without one, things can quickly slide into chaos – double-booked appointments, delayed tests, missed calibration dates, and stressed-out staff. With a qualified MOT Site Manager in place, everything runs like a well-oiled machine. Bookings are balanced, workflows make sense, testers know what’s expected, and any hiccups get sorted before they snowball. That means fewer headaches, fewer comebacks, and a smoother day for everyone, including your customers. You can spend more time doing what you do best: testing cars, fixing faults, and keeping the wheels turning (literally). (Read More)

We get asked this one a lot, especially by smaller garages. On paper, it might look like a qualified MOT Site Manager just handles admin and compliance – things you could probably juggle yourself between tests, right? In reality, a qualified Site Manager doesn’t just shuffle paperwork. They’re the glue that holds your testing station together. They make sure your records, quality checks, and calibration logs are watertight so that when the DVSA walks in (and they will), you’re not panicking! They keep your testers sharp, your equipment spot-on, and your customers happy. In short, they protect your licence, your reputation, and your sanity. So yes, technically you could manage without one, but why take the risk when the cost of getting it wrong can shut your site down? (Read More)

To record an MOT Testing Station Quality Control (QC) check, a VT29 should be completed with notes and comments regarding what the QC saw/discussed with the tester. There should also be a direct reference to the Test Quality Information (TQI) report and/or the Test Log (TL) report on every check. (Read More)

In relation to how often the MOT Testing Station Quality Control (QC) checks should be carried out, the MOT Guide states: The frequency of checks may typically be expected to be 1 per tester every 2 months. However, this is based on the average garage throughput of 2 to 3 tests per day for experienced testers – so should be varied to reflect the volume of tests done or any other special circumstances – such as the experience of testers. For example, if a tester is inexperienced or doing twice the average of 2 to 3 tests per day you should consider increasing the checks to once a month. We would strongly recommend carrying QC checks for all testers on a monthly basis. (Read More)

No – you must not record a pass or fail MOT test result unless you have personally taken an active part in the examination of the vehicle.  If you do it would come under constitute fraud, dishonesty or gross negligence in the MOT testing process and you can be given 500 points which means cessation. (Read More)

No – all equipment must be calibrated in accordance with the DVSA’s requirements and failure to do so will prevent the testing of any vehicle that requires the use of that item of test equipment. (Read More)

Print the Special Notice and ask testers to sign that they have read and more importantly, understood the content. Where appropriate, discuss with the Special Notice with the MOT Testing team and talk about how they are going to implement it. (Read More)

Failing to notify the DVSA of changes, meaning that the information they hold about your company is incorrect, could result in a 500 point penalty – enough for a temporary cessation from testing! (Read More)

If the company is continuing to operate under the same company number and registration, you can continue to operate as an MOT Testing centre but you MUST notify the DVSA of the changes using the  VT01 form. (Read More)

Yes – the DVSA must be notified of any convictions relating to MOT Testers as per the guidance in the MOT Testing Guide: Appendix 7 convictions and repute.  Details should be emailed to MOTadministration@dvsa.gov.uk (Read More)

Take a look at your MOT noticeboard and ask yourself: Is it visible to those booking or waiting for their MOT? Is it covered by a protective transparent covering? Is it clearly marked as an MOT Noticeboard? Does it have the correct paperwork on it? How old are the papers on the board, are they up to date? Anything that says VOSA or Vehicle Inspectorate probably needs updating!  (VOSA become DVSA in 2013. Vehicle Inspectorate became VOSA in 2003). (Read More)

You need to notify the DVSA of any changes to the MOT Centre. Such changes would include: a sole trader entering into a partnership any change in the partnerships constitution (where the AE is a partnership) any change to the directors of the company (where the AE is a company) any change to the person who was required to attended the MOT managers’ course – this only applies where a trained person is required under section B2. Training any change in trading name or court appointed supervision of the business other than that which is described as automatic cessation a company that continues to operate under the same registration and company number may continue testing provided that any changes to the officers of the company or change in the relationship to any parent company have been notified. (Read More)

The longer answer to this can be found in Section B of the MOT Guide, but in summary: Any authorisation by DVSA allows only the MOT Station legal entity authorised to provide the testing service. If a company is reconstituted in a way that leads to a new company registration and number being issued, then it will be regarded as a new entity and a new authorisation is needed. If, in a partnership, a partner leaves or joins, the partnership becomes a new entity, so again, a new authorisation is needed. This is also the case if a sole trader takes on a partner or forms a company (see also Transfer of records following cessation or disciplinary action). (Read More)

Encourage your MOT testers to work with you if they have a problem or question about their RAG rating. One way we know works is to ask during a QC check, so start doing this as part of your monthly checks and record the information on the monthly checklist. (Read More)

The Test Quality Information Report (known as a TQI report) is a compilation of the information needed to help you manage your MOT business effectively. For example, the number of  tests completed by each tester at a site, the average vehicle age, the average test time and the percentage of tests failed. For a more detailed explanation please read our article, What’s involved in a monthly TQI Report. (Read More)

Once you have downloaded and opened the monthly MOT test log in excel, it will look like this: (Read More)

The MOT Test Log analysis could be carried out by a third party, such as AEC, and many MOT stations choose this option. But ultimately, it falls to the AE to ensure that statutory MOT tests carried out are to the highest standard and follow the DVSA’s MOT inspection manual. (Read More)

An AE needs to be able to evidence that the MOT Test Log Analysis is being carried out routinely. You will have to look through and highlight anything out of the ordinary within your test centre MOT test log data. Take a look at our ‘What is a Test Log Analysis?’ article for more information. (Read More)

Common issues that crop up for many AEs and AECs when analysing an MOT Test Log are: tests being completed faster than they should re-tests not taking a reasonable length of time to test previously failed items tests not being conducted within business operating hours. These are snapshots of what we often see as a Third Party AEC. Less common but a cause for concern is if you identify tests are not being undertaken at the correct IP address for your MOT station. (Read More)

DVSA guidelines dictate that MOT Test Log analysis should be conducted monthly. (Read More)