Guidance

MOT special notice 03-19: changes to MOT inspection manuals, defects and new MOT role

Published 17 June 2019

This guidance was withdrawn on

This MOT special notice has been withdrawn because the information has been added to the MOT inspection manual, so it is no longer relevant.

You can find all the information in the latest version of the MOT inspection manual at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-special-notice-03-19-changes-to-mot-inspection-manuals-defects-and-a-new-mot-role/mot-special-notice-03-19-changes-to-mot-inspection-manuals-defects-and-new-mot-role

1. Overview

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) keeps the content of MOT under constant review.

The MOT inspection manuals for motorcycles (class 1 and 2) and cars and passenger vehicles (class 3, 4, 5 and 7) were last updated on 13 September 2018.

Following feedback from MOT testers, DVSA is updating the manuals again on 20 June 2019.

2. What the changes are

The changes to the manuals will include:

  • clarifying and improving the wording of some defects
  • adding new defects

Before the manuals are updated

Familiarise yourself with guidance about the:

After the manuals are updated

You’ll be able to see a list of all updates made in each manual’s change log.

  1. Select the relevant manual from your MOT testing service homepage.

  2. Select (+ show all updates) at the bottom of the manual’s contents page.

3. Tests until 20 June 2019

MOT tests up to and including 20 June 2019 must follow the current standards.

However, you should tell the vehicle’s keeper about any of the new defects you find. Record them as manual advisories in the MOT testing service to do this.

4. Retests from 20 June 2019

Vehicles you retest from 20 June (which were originally tested before then) still only need a partial retest.

This means you only need to retest the original test failure items and any associated items.

The new standards will apply to these items.

If you see new defects in other areas during a retest

During the retest of a vehicle originally tested before 20 June 2019, you will not need to test any of the other new areas being introduced.

However, if you do see new defects in these areas, you must record them. Major and dangerous defects will mean the vehicle will fail the retest.

5. Headlamps: levelling devices

From 20 June 2019, section 4.1.5 of the inspection manual (headlamps - levelling devices) no longer applies to motor caravans.

6. New MOT consultant role

DVSA has introduced a new consultant role in the MOT testing service. You can assign the authorised examiner consultant (AEC) role in the MOT testing service to consultants you use to provide advice on MOT standards and how to run your centre. Do this on the AE details page.

This lets the consultant view:

  • test quality information
  • test logs
  • tester annual assessment certificates
  • site review outcomes

They cannot carry out any other actions, such as buying slots, starting tests or assign roles.

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