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Guidance

MOT special notice 04-26: national rollout of photos at test

Published 29 July 2026

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-special-notice-04-26-national-rollout-of-photos-at-test/mot-special-notice-04-26-national-rollout-of-photos-at-test

What’s changing

From 3 August 2026, we’ll start the national rollout of the feature to take and upload photos at test. 

The feature allows MOT testers to take and upload a photo of a vehicle at the time of test using a smartphone, tablet or other compatible mobile device. 

Around 2,500 garages across Great Britain will get access to the feature during this phase of the rollout.  

Rolling out this feature in phases allows us to test it with a smaller number of garages so we can:

  • monitor service performance 
  • monitor how many testers are using the feature 
  • minimise disruption to garages and MOT testers

Further phases will be introduced and reviewed as the rollout continues. If your garage is not selected to be part of this phase, you do not need to do anything. Your garage will get this feature at a later date.

Why we’re introducing this feature

Uploading a photo allows provides additional evidence that a vehicle was present at the garage at the time of its test.

This new feature will:

  • help deter fraudulent MOT activity 
  • reduce the risk of MOT certificates being issued where no vehicle is present 
  • support vehicle identity verification 
  • improve confidence in MOT testing 
  • contribute to road safety objectives

It will support existing MOT processes and does not replace any part of the MOT inspection.

How the feature works

You do not need to download a separate app. You can either:

  • use a mobile device to register the vehicle, take a photo and complete the test 
  • start the test on a desktop computer and then scan a QR code with a mobile device to take and upload the photo

The photos are uploaded directly to the MOT testing service. The photos are not stored in the device’s camera roll or photo gallery.

At this stage, taking and uploading photos is optional. You can continue an MOT test without taking a photo by selecting the most appropriate reason within the service. You will not be prevented from recording the MOT test result if you cannot take or upload a photo. 

We recognise that some garages may need time to put local equipment, connectivity arrangements or processes in place before making full use of the feature. 

However, we strongly encourage you to begin using the feature where possible. This will help you become familiar with the process and make the transition easier if photos at test become mandatory in the future.

What authorised examiners need to know

Authorised examiners (AEs), authorised examiner designated managers (AEDMs) and site managers can view information about uploaded photos through existing MOT test logs.

You will be able to see:

  • whether a photograph was uploaded 
  • the reason a photograph was not uploaded

Previous trials

The national rollout of this feature follows 2 successful trials involving 311 garages. 

Feedback from testers during this trial was overwhelmingly positive. Many reported that the feature was straightforward to use and that it had little or no impact on overall testing times. 

The trials also helped us identify opportunities to improve the service. As a result, we were able to improve the photo upload process to improve performance, reliability and the overall user experience. 

During the trial, most users were able to use the feature successfully. However, some garages did have issues with factors outside DVSA’s control, such as:

  • device compatibility
  • browser settings
  • network connectivity
  • local IT restrictions

If you’re experiencing issues using the feature

Before you contact DVSA, you should check your:

  • internet and wifi connectivity 
  • mobile device availability and compatibility 
  • browser settings and permissions 
  • local network or security restrictions 

If you’re still having issues after you have checked these things, contact DVSA. You need to include: 

  • the vehicle registration mark or MOT test number 
  • the device being used 
  • the web browser being used 
  • whether the issue occurred using a mobile device or QR code journey 
  • a description of the problem being experienced 

Providing this information will help us to identify recurring issues and any improvements we can make.

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