Guidance

Provide MOT training courses

How to provide MOT tester and manager qualification courses, and MOT tester annual training courses - including the topics the training must cover.

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Types of MOT training

There are 2 types of MOT training you can provide:

  • MOT tester and manager qualification courses
  • MOT tester annual training courses

You must be approved by an awarding organisation to provide qualification courses.

You don’t need to be approved to provide annual training courses.

Provide qualification courses

You can get approval to provide these MOT qualifications:

  • Level 2 Award in MOT Testing (classes 1 and 2 - motorcycles)
  • Level 2 Award in MOT Testing (classes 4 and 7 - light vehicles)
  • Level 3 Award in MOT Test Centre Management

Apply for approval

Contact an awarding organisation to find out:

  • if you’re eligible to be a training provider
  • how to register with them

You can register with more than one.

SEG Awards

mot.abcawards.co.uk
Telephone: 0115 854 1620
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

Institute of the Motor Industry

www.imiawards.org.uk
Telephone: 01992 511 521
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

City & Guilds

www.cityandguilds.com
Telephone: 0844 543 0000
Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

When you’re approved

You’ll be responsible for approving individual MOT trainers to run the qualification courses.

The awarding organisations you register with will give you more information about running the courses.

Provide annual training

MOT testers must complete training between April and March every year. You can provide training courses for them to take.

MOT testers have to study different topics depending on whether they test:

  • class 1 and 2 vehicles (‘group A’)
  • class 3, 4, 5, 7 vehicles (‘group B’)

Most of the questions will be about specific topics. Some of the questions could be about other topics from the MOT inspection manuals and MOT testing guide.

2023 to 2024 topics

These are the topics for 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Group A

Testers who test vehicles in group A need to know about:

Group B

Testers who test vehicles in group B need to know about:

Groups A and B

MOT testers who test vehicles in both group A and group B need to study all the topics. They will need to train for at least 6 hours a year (instead of 3) and take 2 annual assessments.

Questions on registering a vehicle for test

These are some examples of the subjects MOT testers will be asked questions about:

  • correctly identifying the vehicle and the class of vehicle
  • what to do if the vehicle identification number (VIN) or registration does not match
  • whether you can test the vehicle if you find a fault during a pre-check, for example if the fuel cap or door will not open
  • what to do if the vehicle has been incorrectly registered for test
  • what to do if the incorrect registration has been recorded
  • what to do if the vehicle cannot fit on your equipment due to its wheelbase, distance between wheels, lowered, length or size
  • what to do if the vehicle’s mileage is not clear
  • what to do if the vehicle is the wrong colour and how to change the record of its colour
  • what to do if the wrong model variant is noticed on the first test
  • how to create a new test (first test)
  • Q plates

Questions on use of equipment

These are some examples of the subjects MOT testers will be asked questions about:

  • calibration of equipment
  • what to do if the equipment stops working
  • what to do if connected equipment is not working correctly (class 4 and 7 vehicles only)
  • what to do when the decelerometer is sent for calibration
  • testing in manual mode (class 4 and 7 vehicles only)
  • how to raise or jack vehicles
  • aligning headlamp equipment/distance from beam tester

Questions on test procedures

These are some examples of the subjects MOT testers will be asked questions about:

  • what to do if the vehicle is damaged during the test
  • what to do if the headlamp patterns on the vehicle are different from those in the appropriate manual
  • which checks and standards apply to vehicles fitted with spoked wheels
  • which standards to apply to Q plates (date of first use, horn, emission smoke (class 4 and 7 vehicles only))
  • whether you can test the vehicle if the fuel cap or door does not open during the pre-check

Questions on MOT inspection manual

These are some examples of the subjects MOT testers will be asked questions about:

  • declining or refusing a test
  • when to abandon or abort a test, whether a fee can be charged, and what action to take if the test cannot be completed
  • whether a vehicle can be refused or declined if the vehicle is exempt from testing but the customer still wants to have it tested
  • what happens if an exempt vehicle fails its MOT test
  • MOTs for vehicles not fitted with lights
  • engine oil leaks identified during a pre-check
  • battery leaks (standard and hybrid/full electric)
  • what can be done if a vehicle was mistakenly tested by the VTS before it was due (for example, a one year old vehicle with a private plate tested by the site in error)
  • what to do if a vehicle has more than one different VIN but appears to be standard in all other aspects, is a multistage build or has been subject to a conversion (motor home class 4 and 7 only)
  • whether you can still be a tester if you lose your licence due to a medical condition
  • what to do if a customer requests an MOT test for a vehicle with a police or DVSA prohibition notice on it
  • what to do if the presenter does not know the weight or power output of the vehicle

These are some examples of subjects MOT testers might be asked about for group A:

  • an additional stop lamp fitted to a top box but not working (wiring visible/not visible)
  • mirrors that are fitted but broken, or cannot be adjusted to provide a view to the rear
  • chopper style bikes fitted with lamps but no indicators
  • imported bikes (2012) with combined indicator/stop lamps

These are some examples of subjects MOT testers might be asked about for group B:

  • what to do if the headlamp levelling device on a motor caravan is not working
  • class 7 vehicle tyre load capacity, axle weights and speed rating
  • whether a car over 3000kg can be tested at a class 4 site
  • whether motor caravans can be tested at a class 4 site
  • the maximum unladen weight of dual-purpose vehicles
  • whether a pickup vehicle fitted with a 5th wheel can be tested as class 4 or 7
  • what class of vehicle a minibus with 8 passenger seats and wheelchair tracking for 6 additional wheelchairs would be
  • checking imported vehicles that cannot have a standard size number plate fitted to them

2024 to 2025 topics

These are the topics for 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

Group A

Testers who test vehicles in group A need to know about:

Group B

Testers who test vehicles in group B need to know about:

Groups A and B

MOT testers who test vehicles in both group A and group B need to study all the topics. They will need to train for at least 6 hours a year (instead of 3) and take 2 annual assessments.

Questions on corrosion and standards of repair

These are some examples of the subjects MOT testers will be asked questions about:

  • identifying and assessing corrosion
  • prescribed areas
  • non-prescribed areas
  • load area
  • load bearing and supportive structures
  • tow bar mountings
  • suitable materials used in repair
  • bonded repairs
  • repairs to alloy/steel wheels
  • non-metallic structures, such as carbon fibre
  • brake pipes
  • cab and body mountings (class 4 and 7 vehicles only)
  • chassis types (class 4 and 7 vehicles only)
  • frame arrangements including sidecars (class 1 and 2 vehicles only)
  • when the engine is a stressed member (class 1 and 2 vehicles only)

Questions on classification of vehicles

These are some examples of the subjects MOT testers will be asked questions about:

  • non-testable items relating to vehicles identified as mopeds
  • EU classification of vehicles (goods vehicles, cars, pickups, quads, motor caravans, mopeds, solo motorcycles, motorcycle and sidecars)
  • what to do when the weight or power output of vehicle presented for MOT test is not known (class 4 and 7 vehicles only)
  • seat belt requirements for quadracycles (class 4 and 7 vehicles only)
  • identification of quadracycles (class 4 and 7 vehicles only)
  • the classification of a goods vehicle converted into a motor caravan (for example, seating capacity) and which brake test should be carried out (class 4 and 7 vehicles only)
  • which brake test should be carried out on a dual purpose pickup (class 4 and 7 vehicles only)

Questions on test procedures applicable to all classes

These are some examples of the subjects MOT testers will be asked questions about:

  • correct use of advisory items
  • correct use of the term ‘excessive’
  • calibration of equipment
  • contingency testing
  • what to do if you’ve forgotten your password or user identification 
  • who can test three-wheeled vehicles
  • what to do when the distance between the centres of the areas of contact between the wheels and the road surface is less than 460mm
  • what to do when the distance between the centres of the areas of contact between the wheels and the road surface is 460mm or more
  • what to check during the retest of a vehicle
  • what to do during the pre-check
  • what to do when the vehicle does not have a current MOT and the customer is trying to arrange an appointment
  • what to do if the vehicle you’re about to test still has 2 months or more remaining on the MOT
  • wheel alignment of three-wheeled vehicles (class 1 and 2 vehicles only)
  • who can test class 5 vehicles (class 4 and 7 testers only)

Questions on the MOT inspection manuals and MOT testing guide

Please be aware that the content of the inspection manuals and testing guide may change. The topics will be listed below.

These are some examples of the subjects MOT testers will be asked questions about:

  • major fail items identified during pre-check
  • what to do if a vehicle requires a decelerometer check and dangerous defect has been identified during the test
  • equipment failures during a test
  • local IT issues during a test
  • national IT issues with the MOT testing service during a test
  • training logs
  • what you must do if you get a criminal conviction
  • cessation periods
  • action or points awarded if you apply incorrect standards for pass, major and dangerous
  • what action DVSA may take if you deliberately carry out MOT testing incorrectly or do not follow the procedure in the MOT testing guide and inspection manual (this information is available in Appendix 8 of the MOT testing guide)

These are some examples of subjects MOT testers might be asked about for group A:

  • what to do if a steering damper is fitted
  • what to do if ABS is fitted but not working
  • what to do if there is significant parallel misalignment of the road wheels

These are some examples of subjects MOT testers might be asked about for group B:

  • checking seat belt fitment and condition
  • child seats held by isofix, ratchet straps, carabiners, nuts and bolts and also the vehicle’s own seat belt
  • emission and smoke testing temperatures, basic emissions test not passed, diesel vehicle plate limits
  • brake testing for class 4 three-wheelers and quadracycles
Published 5 August 2016
Last updated 1 December 2023 + show all updates
  1. Added the MOT annual training and assessment topics for 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

  2. Added MOT training course topics for 2023 to 2024.

  3. Added MOT training course topics for 2022 to 2023.

  4. Removed the 2020 to 2021 training topics

  5. Added the training topics for 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022.

  6. Removed the 2019 to 2020 training topics.

  7. Added the annual training and assessment topics for April 2020 to March 2021.

  8. Added the annual training and assessment topics for April 2019 to March 2020.

  9. Added information about providing MOT tester annual training courses.

  10. First published.