Driver Vehicle Standards Agency
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
This guide sets out the rules you have to follow to run an MOT test station.
The MOT inspection manuals for cars and passenger vehicles and motorcycles set out the processes and standards for the MOT test itself.
- Abbreviations and definitions
Abbreviations and definitions
- A. Introduction
The purpose of the MOT test, what it includes, which vehicles are tested and which are exempt, who carries out the test.
- B. Authorised examiners
How to become an authorised examiner, what training you'll need, why your authorisation might cease, the facilities, equipment and security you need to carry out MOT tests, your responsibilities as a tester.
- C. Designated councils, taxis and private hire vehicles
MOT testing by local authorities (designated councils), which taxis and private hire vehicles do not need an MOT certificate.
- D. Requirements for authorisation
Who is eligible to become an authorised examiner, their responsibilities, how to apply, what happens when DVSA receives an application, site requirements, mandatory roles, required training, testing requirements for all vehicle classes.
- E. Tester
Who is eligible to become a tester, when applications might be refused, training and keeping up to date.
- F. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
The role of the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), how to make a complaint about DVSA.
- G. Vehicle presenters
How to appeal against a decision to refuse a test certificate, how to complain against the issue of a test certificate.
- H. Documentation
Inspection manuals and the MOT testing guide, special notices, leaflets and customer information, forms, test certificates, how to get a replacement test document, how documentation should be retained.
- I. Discipline
What happens when shortcomings are found in MOT testing or operations, why disciplinary action may be taken against authorised examiners and testers, disciplinary points and how they're evaluated, when formal disciplinary action will be taken, making an appeal against cessation of authorisation.
- J. Vehicle prohibitions
Who can issue prohibition notices, how a prohibition notice can be lifted, how to test vehicles with prohibition notices.
- K. Police vehicle defect rectification scheme (VDRS)
What the vehicle defect rectification scheme is, when police may issue a vehicle defect rectification form, the role of the VTS in the VDRS scheme, what fees the VTS can set for VDRS.
- L. Accounts and fees
Fees for tests, retests, duplicate certificates, replacement certificates, VAT, credit card payments, test slots, paying for MOTs with an account.
- M. System rules and user roles
MOT testing service user roles, what they can do, what their responsibilities are, which roles are mandatory, authorised examiner's responsibility for security of the MOT testing service.
- N. MOT contingency testing procedures
Contingency procedures for MOT testing, completing contingency test certificates, contingency testing catch ups, issuing duplicate and replacement contingency testing certificates.
- Appendix 1: MOT management training
The training you'll need to be an MOT manager, when you'll need to complete the training, why you may need to retrain, how to apply for MOT manager training, what is covered in the course and how it's assessed, what happens if an MOT manager leaves an their role.
- Appendix 2: Facilities and security
The facilities and security needed to carry out MOT testing, signs and notices, maintaining and calibrating testing equipment, documentation, IT and associated equipment, the MOT security code.
- Appendix 3: Grounds for refusal
Reasons why a tester can refuse to carry out a test.
- Appendix 4: Liability for loss or damage
Authorised examiner