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.

Published 5 August 2016
Last updated 1 May 2020 — see all updates
From:
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Applies to:
Wales, England, and Scotland

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.

ABC 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

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’)

The topics MOT testers have to study are different every year.

2020 to 2021 topics

These are the topics for 1 May 2020 to 31 March 2021.

The pass mark for the assessment will be 80%.

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 issuing documents for all vehicle classes

MOT testers will be asked questions about:

  • issuing a replacement MOT certificate (VT20)
  • issuing a duplicate MOT certificate (VT20)
  • contingency testing procedures when the MOT testing service is not working
  • reasons to refuse to test
  • reasons to cancel a test once it has begun
  • what to do when vehicle details have been entered incorrectly
  • what to do if a vehicle has been issued with a prohibition notice
  • what to do if a vehicle has been issued with a notice under the Police Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme (VDRS)

Questions on the disciplinary points system

MOT testers will be asked questions about:

  • why disciplinary points are applied
  • what happens if they are issued with disciplinary points
  • how to return to testing after they’ve been made to stop for a short or long period of time
  • what points would be issued if incorrect standards were applied, items were not tested or the correct procedures were not followed

Questions on the definition of vehicle classes

MOT testers will have to answer questions about the definition of vehicle classes during the assessment.

These are some examples of the subjects they might be asked about for group A:

  • motorbike and sidecar class 1, 2 or 3
  • 3 wheeled machines
  • sidecars
  • engine size

These are some examples of the subjects they might be asked about for group B:

  • which vehicle categories fall under group B
  • the difference between an M1 and an N1 vehicle
  • dual-purpose vehicles
  • seating capacity, inclusion of wheelchairs

Questions on the MOT inspection manuals

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

  • controls
  • twin headlamps
  • exhaust markings
  • imported motorcycles
  • raising and jacking motorcycles including stands and side stands
  • position of reflectors and size etc
  • number plate size and format
  • calculating the brake performance for a machine with linked brakes
  • retest procedures
  • weights to be used for the brake test calculation
  • wheel alignment checks (requirements may change)
  • frame condition, standard of repairs and what is acceptable
  • headlamps aim and European beam pattern tolerances
  • tyres: tread depth requirements, where is it measured, what is measured, stepped tread
  • motocross tyres

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

  • retest procedures
  • brake test procedures
  • examination of vehicle fitted with an electrical mechanical parking brake
  • brake calculation
  • steering and suspension checks - what checks are to be done using turning plates
  • steering and suspension checks - what checks are to be done on hard standing
  • diesel smoke testing correct standards
  • heat shield missing
  • testing a tow-bar 13 pin electrical socket
  • headlamps aim and European beam pattern tolerances
  • drivers’ view
  • tyres: tread depth requirements, where is it measured, what is measured, stepped tread
Published 5 August 2016
Last updated 1 May 2020 + show all updates

  1. Removed the 2019 to 2020 training topics.

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

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

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

  5. First published.

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