MOT inspection manual changes
Updated 26 February 2019
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
© Crown copyright 2019
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-changes-from-may-2018-guidance-for-mot-testers/mot-inspection-manual-changes
Overview
The MOT inspection manual changed on May 2018.
There are more sections and the order of the sections has changed.
The MOT inspection manual has all the details of:
- new or changed failures
- new or changed checks
- improved or changed information
This guide sets out the main changes to the MOT inspection manual.
1. New sections and order
The MOT inspection manual has some more sections, and the ordering has changed.
The new content list is:
- introduction
- section 0 - identification of the vehicle (number plates and VIN)
- section 1 - brakes
- section 2 - steering
- section 3 - visibility
- section 4 - lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
- section 5 - axles, wheels, tyres and suspension
- section 6 - body, structure and equipment
- section 7 - other equipment (seat belts, supplemental restraint system, speedometer, horn, electronic stability control)
- section 8 - nuisance (noise, emissions, environmental items)
- section 9 - supplementary tests for buses and coaches (includes class 4 and 5 minibuses)
- section 10 - seat belt installation tests
- appendix A - structural integrity and corrosion
- appendix B - tyre load index tables
- appendix C - seat belt fitment tables
2. New, changed or removed failures, checks and information
This part of the guide tells you about:
- new items you’ll test from 20 May 2018
- defects that will no longer cause an MOT test fail
- what’s changed in most sections of the MOT inspection manual - including new failures, new or changed inspection, and improved or changed information
New items
New items that you’ll test from 20 May 2018 are:
- brake fluid contamination
- additional braking device performance
- daytime running lamps
- front fog lamps
- reversing lamps
- bumpers
- prop shafts
- all rear drive shafts
- cab security
- cab steps
- floors
- passenger hand grips (quads and heavy trikes only)
- noise suppression material
- undertray security
- emission control equipment:
- oxygen sensor
- NOx sensor
- exhaust gas recirculation valve
- other emission control equipment
- engine malfunction indicator lamp
- diesel particulate filter (DPF) tampering
- fluid leaks - engine, transmission and so on
Check the MOT inspection manual for the full details about these items.
Defects that no longer cause an MOT test fail
Some defects that are classed as ‘minor’ since 20 May 2018 previously resulted in a test fail.
They include:
- brake fluid level below the minimum mark
- brake fluid warning lamp illuminated or inoperative
- power steering fluid below the minimum mark
- trailer electrical socket insecure
- direction indicator flashing rate
- one of two registration plate lamps missing or inoperative
- several audible warning defects
- many items ‘insecure’ but not likely to become detached
If the vehicle only has minor defects, it will pass its MOT and you’ll need to issue an MOT certificate.
Introduction
In the introduction, there are the following additions or changes:
- introduction of EU type-approval categories
- clarification of dual-purpose vehicle definition
- American and Canadian pick-up trucks up to 6,500kg added to class 4
- information about vehicles of historic interest added
- reason to refuse to test for the presence of a load added
- ‘reasons for rejection’ changed to defects
- minor, major and dangerous defect categorisation added
- definition of insecure added
- definition of unsafe modification added
- changes to ‘extensively modified vehicles to include modifications for disabled use
Identification of vehicle (section 0)
New failures
A new failure for vehicle identification number (VIN) obviously falsified has been added
Removed
The check for 2 different VINs has been removed.
Brakes (section 1)
New failures
There are now failures for:
- brake lining or pad wear indicator illuminated
- brake lining or pad incorrectly mounted
- a brake disc or drum missing
- an incorrectly installed brake slack adjuster
- additional braking device insecure or inoperative
- other braking system components damaged or corroded, for example, air dryer, antifreeze pump
- brake fluid contaminated
- air brake reservoir drain device
New or changed inspection
Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) can’t be removed from a vehicle made on or after 1 January 2010.
Removed
The check for reserve pressure of full power hydraulic systems has been removed.
Steering (section 2)
New failures
There are new failures for:
- sector shaft condition
- steering gear fixing holes elongated
- electronic power steering wiring damaged or corroded
- ‘fly by wire’ steering systems
Visibility (section 3)
New failures
There is a new failure for excessively tinted glass.
New or changed inspection
There are the following additions or changes:
- view of exterior mirrors added
- class 5 glazing now only applies to vehicles first used from 1 June 1978, and no longer applies to interior doors or panels
Improved or changed information
The definition of the driver’s field of vision has been updated.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (section 4)
New failures
There are new failures for:
- light source and lamp not compatible
- daytime running lamps
- front fog lamps
- reversing lamps
New or changed inspection
There are new or changed inspections for:
- headlamp washers tested on vehicles first used on or after 1 September 2009
- inspection of end-outline marker lamps now applies to class 4, 5, and 7
Improved or changed information
Information has been updated about the interaction between position lamps and other lamps.
Axles, wheels, tyres and suspension (section 5)
New failures
There are new failures for:
- tyre obviously under-inflated on tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) equipped vehicles post 1 January 2012 (mark this as a ‘minor’ defect)
- a spring missing
Failures previously only applicable to large vehicles now apply to any vehicle
Improved or changed information
This information has changed::
- assessing tyre damage
- reference to stretched tyres included
- tyre tables moved to appendix B
Removed
The following have been removed:
- checks for tyre structure between axles
- checks for tyre correctly seated on the bead rim
- checks of tyre valves
- failure for fitment of a space-saver wheel
Body, structure and attachments (section 6)
New failures
There are new failures for:
- vehicle structure significantly reduced
- fuel tank and exhaust shields missing
- any part of a gas fuel system defective
- bumper security
- spare wheel carrier condition
- towbar safety devices and coupling indicators
- cab security
- floor condition
- seat structure condition
- cab steps
- footrests and handgrips (where fitted)
New or changed inspection
There are new or changed inspections for:
- strengthening plates and fastening
- exhaust fumes entering cabin failure, which has been extended to all vehicles
- inspection of drive shafts, which has been extended to all transmission shafts - including prop shafts
- drive belts and chains
- body condition, which now includes unsafe modifications, component security, including undertrays as well as body pillars on goods vehicles
Improved or changed information
Information has been added to this section for fuel tanks holed above the fuel line.
Other equipment (section 7)
New failures
A new failure has been added for seat belt not functioning as intended.
Improved or changed information
This information has changed::
- seat belt fitment information has moved to appendix C
- seat belt installation checks have moved to section 10
Nuisance (section 8)
New failures
There are new failures for:
- noise suppression material
- exhaust emission control equipment
- induction leaks
- engine malfunction indicator lamp
- evidence that a diesel particulate filter (DPF) has been tampered with
- any visible smoke from a vehicle fitted with a DPF
- fluid leaks - engine coolant and Adblue not included
New or changed inspection
There are new or changed inspections for:
- metered smoke test date, which has changed to 1 January 1980
- new smoke limit of 0.7m-1 introduced for vehicles first used on or after 1 January 2014
- smoke test limits on vehicles post 1 July 2008 will be carried out to either the default standard or the limit on the manufacturer’s plate (where one is displayed)
- the option to abort the smoke test if levels are significantly in excess of the specified limit values after one acceleration
- fast pass no longer exists
- test is passed if the specific limit is achieved after one acceleration, otherwise after 3 accelerations, otherwise after up to a maximum of 6 accelerations
Appendix A - structural integrity and corrosion
Changes to inspections have been added to this section for:
- change to failure criteria for defects not within a prescribed area
- clarification on acceptable repairs in the case of spot welded panels
Other changes
These more general changes have been made:
- inappropriate repair dropped other than for prescribed areas
- inappropriate modification changed to unsafe modification
3. New browsable webpage format
The new MOT inspection is available in a browsable webpage format.
This is easier for you to use and navigate. It also works much better on mobile devices like tablets and phones.
MOT inspection manual for private passenger and light commercial vehicles