MOT special notice 12-18: MOT testing station applications, site reviews and MOT risk ratings
Published 7 November 2018
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
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1. Apply to open, run or change an MOT testing station
You use the VT01 application form on GOV.UK to:
- apply to become an authorised examiner (AE) - a sole trader, partnership or limited company authorised to run an MOT testing station
- tell the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) about a change in your details or circumstances
- change your AE designated manager (the person in charge of MOT testing in your business)
- apply to set up a new MOT testing station
- apply to take on an existing MOT testing station
- make a change to a current MOT testing station, including changing classes of vehicle it can test, or changing test equipment
From 1 November 2018, you can fill in the form online and email it to motadministration@dvsa.gov.uk.
You can also send supporting documents electronically, attached to the email. The new guidance notes explain what you need to send.
If a partnership or company is applying, every partner or director must complete a separate declaration.
1.1 What happens next
The MOT Approvals team will process your application and contact you in due course.
Make sure you provide all items needed to support your application. Any errors or omissions may delay its progress.
If your application is for an MOT testing station and is successful, you’ll get a letter giving you ‘approval in principle’. This letter confirms the content of your application is acceptable and you can continue setting up the MOT testing station.
If you want to change any part of your application, contact the MOT Approvals at motadministration@dvsa.gov.uk to confirm the changes are acceptable.
You can still send in your application on paper. However, your application can be processed more quickly if it’s sent online.
2. MOT site reviews (formerly site assessments)
From Monday 12 November 2018, the site assessment will be replaced by a shorter site review. More emphasis is being placed on the outcome of the test.
The results from a site review visit will be available to view on the MOT testing service by the site manager (SM) and AE designated manager (AEDM). This replaces the paper form left at the MOT testing station by the DVSA vehicle examiner.
If remedial action and a response are needed, this will be stated in the site review visit results.
To access this information, go to the MOT testing station homepage and select Site review summary.
3. MOT risk rating
From 12 November 2018, a new method of calculating MOT risk of non-compliance will be introduced.
This method will assess every MOT testing station and MOT tester. They will be rated as either red, amber or green - with red being the higher risk.
The purpose of risk rating and the site review is to make sure the MOT testing station:
- meets the standards and requirements to provide MOT tests
- has procedures to support the MOT tester so vehicles get the right outcome at their MOT test
3.1 MOT testers
Each MOT tester will have an individual risk rating. The risk rating is calculated by comparing their individual test information against the national averages.
MOT testers whose information greatly varies from the average will get a higher rating.
A high rating is a flag to the AE and DVSA.
A high rating does not necessarily mean that the tester is doing something wrong. However, there is something that will need to be looked into to find out the reasons why.
MOT testers can see their risk rating by going to their profile. Only MOT testers can see their individual risk rating. It’s the tester’s choice whether or not to share this information with anyone.
The risk rating is calculated using data from the testing service and details of unsatisfactory inspections. Other incidents are also taken into account.
MOT testers can see details of unsatisfactory inspections or incidents in their events. Go to your profile and select Event history on the right-hand side.
To see details of your testing performance go to your test quality information page in your profile.
How MOT tester risk ratings are refreshed
MOT tester risk ratings are refreshed monthly. This will pick up any changes that happened in the previous month.
For example, the risk rating will be refreshed if:
- an MOT tester moves from an MOT testing station which mainly tests older vehicles with a high failure rate to a station which mainly tests 3-year-old vehicles with a normal failure rate
- there’s an unsatisfactory reinspection
3.2 MOT testing stations
An MOT testing station risk rating is calculated from:
- the testers who are testing there
- the site review
- the outcome of unsatisfactory visits and inspections
AEs and site managers should use their test quality reports for information on their testers’ testing profile. Get information on test activities and incidents by going to the AE profile page and selecting Event history.
How MOT testing station risk ratings are refreshed
MOT tester risk ratings are refreshed monthly. This will pick up any changes that happened in the previous month.
For example, the risk rating will be refreshed if an MOT tester joins or leaves the MOT testing station.