Guidance

Check your MOT station is ready for the MOT testing service

How to check that your MOT vehicle testing station (VTS) is ready to move to the new MOT testing service.

This guidance was withdrawn on

The move to the MOT testing service has finished, so this guidance is no longer relevant.

You can record MOT test results and buy slots at www.gov.uk/mot-testing-service.

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Make sure you’re ready

You need to do 4 things before you move to the new MOT testing service and start using it.

Things you need to do

  1. Update your MOT vehicle testing station (VTS) device details.
  2. Get MOT modernisation email alerts.
  3. Make sure you have IT equipment and internet access that meets the rules.
  4. Fill in the ‘readiness survey’ from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

There’ll be very little need for you to have any training to use the new service.

DVSA has suspended MOT tester refresher training from April 2015 to help you move to the new MOT testing service.

Fill in the ‘readiness survey’

Authorised examiners (AEs) must make sure their authorised entity (business) ‘correspondence email address’ is up to date to get the survey.

The survey will ask some simple MOT and IT-related questions.

You’ll get a link to the survey from one of these email addresses:

  • mot.modernisation@vosa.gsi.gov.uk
  • Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (dvsa@public.govdelivery.com)

If you don’t get an email about the survey

You should email these details to mot.modernisation@vosa.gsi.gov.uk if you haven’t had the survey:

  • your VTS number
  • your AE number
  • your phone number

You can send the same information to that address if you’re having problems filling in the survey.

Not being ready

You’ll have been told that you’ll be suspended from MOT testing if you didn’t fill in the ‘readiness survey’ or confirm you’re ready to switch by 3 July 2015.

If you confirm you’re ready after 3 July 2015

DVSA will try to reschedule your switchover if you confirm you’re ready to switch after 3 July 2015.

However, sites already confirmed and scheduled to switch will take priority.

It can take up to 4 weeks to schedule a switchover.

Being unable to switch after you’ve confirmed you’re ready

You’ll be suspended from MOT testing if you’ve confirmed you’re ready to switch and are then unable to by the final switchover date.

You’ll only be allowed to test again when DVSA decides you’re ready and your switchover is rescheduled.

Training for the new service

The new MOT testing service is designed to be easy to use. This means there’ll be very little need for you to have any training.

Early trials show that most people find it easier to use than the current MOT computerisation system.

Before you switch over, you’ll be able to use the new service in a training mode so you can see how it works.

Watch this video to find out more about what the new service looks like.

MOT testing service demo video

Published 15 March 2015