Guidance

MOT special notice 01-25: changes to the disciplinary points system

Published 24 March 2025

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-special-notice-01-25-changes-to-the-disciplinary-points-system/mot-special-notice-01-25-changes-to-the-disciplinary-points-system

The MOT testing guide will be updated on 1 April 2025.

To see the full list of changes, select ‘see all updates’ at the top of the MOT testing guide from 1 April 2025 onwards.

Changes to the disciplinary points system

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) uses a disciplinary points system to gauge the severity of shortcomings. The total number of points is used as a guide to the appropriate level of disciplinary action.

Changes to the points threshold

From 1 April 2025, the threshold for disciplinary action will change from 30 points to 40 points.

This will allow low-scoring shortcomings to be dealt with more efficiently through advice and guidance.

The following sections of the MOT testing guide will be updated to reflect this:

Changes to allocated points

To ensure more serious shortcomings are still in scope for disciplinary action, the points allocated to some shortcomings will change. 

The following sections of Appendix 8 will be updated to reflect this:

  • 8.3: Split testing
  • 8.11: Disciplinary points for class 1 and 2 (group A)
  • 8.12: Disciplinary points for classes 3, 4, 5 and 7 (group B)
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