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.
2025 to 2026 topics
These are the topics for 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Group A
Testers who test vehicles in group A need to know about:
- electric, hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles, disabled rider controls and vehicle modifications
- information in the MOT testing guide
- MOT test procedures
- the MOT inspection manual for motorcycles and sidecars
Group B
Testers who test vehicles in group B need to know about:
- electric, hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles, disabled driver controls and vehicle modifications
- information in the MOT testing guide
- MOT test procedures
- the MOT inspection manual for cars and passenger vehicles
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 electric, hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles, disabled rider and driver controls, and vehicle modifications
These are some examples of the subjects MOT testers will be asked questions about:
- identifying these vehicles (some electric bicycles are subject to MOT test)
- emissions, smoke and visual tests on hybrid vehicles (class 4 and 7 vehicles only)
- what to do if the beam jack cannot extend clear of the batteries in the floor of an electric vehicle (class 4 and 7 vehicles only)
- identifying high voltage cables (not all are orange)
- health and safety
- testing hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel cell systems
- disabled driver and rider controls (as an addition to normal vehicle controls and when replacing normal vehicle controls)
- road testing vehicles fitted with disabled driver and rider controls
- fuel caps and flaps
Questions on information in the MOT testing guide
These are some examples of the subjects MOT testers will be asked questions about:
- replacement certificates
- disciplinary procedures, points evaluation and possible action
- MOT contingency test procedures
- who to contact in situations like dealing with an incorrectly registered vehicle, needing testing advice, appealing against disciplinary action, and replacing certificates
Questions on test procedures
These are some examples of the subjects MOT testers will be asked questions about:
- using turning plates correctly
- using an assistant in both the bike and car test one-person test lane (OPTL) and automated test lane (ATL)
- suspension checks, suspension bearing seized on a car
- using the decelerometer
- smoke test, temperature
- smoke test pre-checks
- smoke test plated values
- noise
- sound deadening material, noise suppression
- fuel system (gas powered vehicles leak check) heat shields, leaks
- headlamp alignment
- brake test procedures
Questions on test procedures applicable to class 4 and 7 vehicles only
MOT testers will be asked questions about items to consider in emissions testing and smoke testing. This includes:
- the age of the vehicle
- seating capacity
- L category vehicles
- modified engine or emission control equipment
- goods vehicles
- conversions
Questions on test procedures applicable to motorcycle class 1 and 2 vehicles only
These are some examples of the subjects MOT testers will be asked questions about:
- suspension movement (acceptable or not acceptable)
- wheel misalignment (shaft drive)
- belt drive
- broken or modified levers
- footrests (missing or not required, single seat conversion)
- reflectors (position, size, shape)
- exhaust modified
- fuel leak
- battery security
Questions on the MOT inspection manuals and MOT testing guide
These are some examples of the subjects all MOT testers will be asked questions about:
- number plates (including vehicle registration dates for grey characters or 3D effects)
- using an assistant in both the bike and car test one-person test lane (OPTL) and automated test lane (ATL)
- lighting
- when the interaction between lamps is acceptable or not acceptable (for example, a daytime running lamp (DRL) is permitted to switch off when the same side indicator is operating)
- locking devices
These are some examples of subjects MOT testers might be asked about for group A:
- front and rear position lamps can be incorporated with the direction indicator lamps – the position lamp on the same side of the direction indicator may or may not switch off when the indicator is switched on
- the DRL can function as a front position lamp – it may or may not switch off or dim when the headlamps are switched on and the engine is running
- clutch and throttle controls (friction device, does not return to idle)
- number plate lamps
- indicator lamps, position (moped, solo, side car)
- testing a motorbike with linked brakes
- checking steering linkage
- checking steering head bearings
- checking a solo machine without a centre stand
These are some examples of subjects MOT testers might be asked about for group B:
- anti-theft devices (M1 not N1 after 2001)
- correct use of turning plates (all checks)
- speedometer operation
- warning lamps (electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock braking system (ABS), seat belt supplementary restraint system (SRS), tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) or engine management light (EML))
- mirrors
Updates to this page
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Added the MOT annual training and assessment topics for 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
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Removed the MOT annual training and assessment topics for 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
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Added the MOT annual training and assessment topics for 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
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Added MOT training course topics for 2023 to 2024.
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Added MOT training course topics for 2022 to 2023.
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Removed the 2020 to 2021 training topics
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Added the training topics for 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022.
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Removed the 2019 to 2020 training topics.
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Added the annual training and assessment topics for April 2020 to March 2021.
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Added the annual training and assessment topics for April 2019 to March 2020.
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Added information about providing MOT tester annual training courses.
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First published.