DVSA Jacking Beam Changes 2026 – Are MOT Stations Ready? | News

The DVSA published Special Notice 04-25 in early October which increased the size and lift capacity of authorised jacking beams used in Class 4 MOT Testing Stations. Here are the new DVSA requirements as shown in SN 04-25:

“Revised jacking beam requirements

New Equipment Standards (Starting 1 April 2026)

To accommodate the increased weight of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids, jacking equipment standards are being updated:

Higher Capacity: New or changing MOT sites must use jacking equipment with a minimum safe working load of 2 tonnes.
Wider Dimensions: Lifting pads must have a minimum distance of 1,700mm between centres to safely support larger modern chassis.
Applicability: These rules apply to any garage opening a new site, changing ownership, adding a new lane, or restarting testing after inactivity. “

Problems for both motorists and MOT Testers

There is, however, a potential problem for motorists and MOT Testers regarding the wider vehicles which the new jacking beam regulations seek to resolve. Here’s DVSA’s explanation of the reason for the change:

“The current specification prevents some newer vehicles, especially electric and hybrids, from being correctly jacked when carrying out an MOT test. These vehicles are heavier than standard combustion engine powered vehicles so the equipment needs an increased safe working load.”

The new regulations do not take effect until April fool’s day this year (2026) but will (initially at least) only apply to new Testing Stations, and those changing their Authorisation. Of course this is the way that DVSA often ‘softly’ introduce upgrades – starting with new sites – as they have done with ‘connected equipment’ – but is it the right thing to do here?

Also, we have been informed by the Garage Equipment Association that most current Class 7 jacking beams would also fail to comply with the new wider dimensions.

A problem we have with this Special Notice is that it carries the implication that current Testing Station owners do not need to upgrade their jacking beams – and that is a matter of some concern. And even though garages should only test vehicles for which their equipment is suitable – perhaps they aren’t all thinking about this issue. But first, let’s look at the problem from the motorist’s viewpoint.

Motorists’ confusion

Here’s a simple question; how will motorists with wider vehicles know which Testing Stations will have the wider jacking beams to safely MOT Test their vehicles (the weight change is less of an issue) Of course, this is not a new issue – the issue will have been there before this special notice – but that special notice perhaps clarifies the situation.

Cars getting heavier and wider is not new – and predates mass market EVs. In the EV market, our understanding is that the first vehicles involved were mainly Tesla models ‘S’ and ‘X’. However, the popularity of larger vehicles and in particular the larger EV range has meant the ‘issue’ has grown and is growing, so there are now increasing numbers of large vehicles where the width required to jack them safely is greater than the current span of many Class 4 and 7 DVSA approved jacking beams. Whilst many garages have chosen to upgrade to new types of jacking beams ahead of this special notice – it has made sense for them to have the flexibility of vehicles they can test, and although that will have helped the motorist, it is, however, estimated that a large proportion of Class 4 Test Stations (ie, cars and light commercial vehicles) do not have the wider span jacking beams.

We have discussed this with Chris Hodder at Majorlift, a key manufacturer of MOT approved jacking beams who notes that the issue is of some concern as it is possible that some Testing Stations may be currently jacking such vehicles on the vehicle’s battery without realising it is dangerous to do so. In fact, it is not only potentially dangerous to the Tester from possible electric shocks but could also damage the battery and associated high voltage cables as a result, at great cost. Hopefully a good proportion of MOT testers will have the common sense to not just jack a vehicle anywhere – and even if not in line with the published guidance will jack somewhere that doesn’t damage the vehicle (although, of course, some points on the suspension may not allow the vehicle to be tested correctly).

Interestingly, Tesla do provide special mushroom shaped pads which can be inserted into load bearing points on the chassis. Yet for the ‘S’ and ‘X’ models the pads are wider apart than the span of MOT jacking beams that only meet the current spec.

So how are these and other vehicles (and probably even more into the future) being currently tested when the vast majority of Testing Stations do not have the appropriate jacking beams to Test them safely? Chris Hodder estimates that probably no more that 25% or so of Test Stations have jacking beams suitable to test those larger vehicles; and that even if manufacturers worked ‘flat out’ it could take years for enough to be manufactured so all Class 4 Test Stations would be able to safely jack these wider vehicles.

This looks very much like a ‘catch 22’ for the owners of these larger vehicles; and it does beg the question; “how have such vehicles been tested to date – it might have been unsafely – when the vast majority of Testing Stations do not have jacking beams of sufficient span to safely elevate the vehicles involved during an MOT inspection”. Of course this will change over-time, but whether change will happen quick enough is unclear.

Testers in the dark…

There is also a problem for MOT Test Stations. The DVSA have not provided a specific list of vehicles which would fall foul of this problem. Of course, in practice they do not have to, DVSA could simply flag up on the MOT computer if the vehicle involved needs a wider jacking beam or issue a Special Notice specifically informing Testers and Testing Station owners of their obligation to refuse to test such vehicles, and specifically identifying which vehicles are involved.

However, DVSA do have generic guidance that vehicles should only test what their equipment will allow – although perhaps this issue is not clear enough to many garages that they should not test wider, heavier vehicles if their equipment is not suitable. There is some vehicle specific guidance available through the testing service however, and it seems that DVSA do intend to improve the guidance to garages – at least sharing examples of the types of vehicles that tend to be difficult.

We certainly encourage the DVSA to do so. The Government, as part of their ‘net zero’ emissions policy are very keen for motorists to purchase more electrically powered vehicles – so perhaps they should provide DVSA with extra funding to identify these vehicles and provide a list to Testing Stations in some form or another. This would ensure the owners of larger Electric Vehicles do not waste time and money going from one Test Station to another frustratingly attempting to find one which has an appropriate jacking beam to MOT Test their vehicles.

We have raised these issues directly with the DVSA who initially responded thus…

“Jacking equipment

The new requirements for jacking equipment, set to be introduced on 1 April 2026, were informed by research conducted across manufacturers on the width of vehicle’s jacking points and the maximum permitted axle weights.

DVSA publishes testing advice for MOT garages testing electronic vehicles on GOV.UK:

Hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel cell systems: guidance for MOT testers – GOV.UK

In addition, this page contains information on specific models. Where possible, it includes external links for garages to check the jacking locations:

Testing advice for cars and passenger vehicles: guidance for MOT testers – GOV.UK

Garages must only test vehicles when it is safe to do so.

Not all garages will be able to test all vehicles. DVSA believes that the large choice of garages always helps someone find a suitable option for an MOT.

If a garage is unable to test a vehicle, customers can be directed to find test stations with suitable equipment. However, it is likely that a garage able to service their vehicle will also be able to MOT.”

Unfortunately, DVSA have not directly told us in this missive how customers can be “directed” to find an appropriate Test Station with wider jacking beams.

As noted above, the MOT Testing Service does link out to vehicle specific information where it is available. And that does include some of those wider vehicles – including the Tesla S and X models and after some searching, we found them at :

“Testing advice for cars and passenger vehicles: guidance for MOT testers – GOV.UK”

This web site covers well over 70 makes and models which have specific idiosyncrasies wherein Testers are instructed to depart from the normal MOT Testing Manual requirements. Many involve the MOT inspection of parking brakes with very specific, ‘do-this-do-that’ instructions. And includes the jacking issue regarding Tesla S and X models – but, perhaps surprisingly, no other vehicle makes/models with jacking beam restrictions are noted within the whole list. That despite there now being many other vehicles which now need wider jacking beams to MOT Test them safely.

The inclusion of only Tesla vehicles regarding the jacking beam issue could also be taken to imply that no other vehicles have the same issue. Of course, that’s not true, it applies to other vehicles as well – it may just be that the DVSA hasn’t had that data shared with it by manufacturers. Of course, many testers will notice that their equipment isn’t suitable and will pass the vehicle on to be tested elsewhere – perhaps the dealership for the brand, but it is quite possible that some of those other wider vehicles have been tested using the wrong jacking beams and have been jacked dangerously.

We have asked DVSA to let us know how many Tesla S and X models were MOT Tested last year. However, they have sent this to their ‘Freedom of Information’ team for a response, which does take time. A pity, as given the serious safety issues involved, we would have hoped for a reasonably prompt response.

Come on DVSA, you already publish over 70 MOT Test idiosyncrasies for specific vehicles requiring unusual test procedures – why not fully address the problem of jacking beams for larger vehicles and identify a specific list of vehicles involved just as you have already done for other vehicles with MOT inspection issues?

From what we understand from DVSA, they will soon publish some clearer guidance for garages – and that they will include some of the example vehicles that they have checked to provide further vehicle specifications. In the meantime – testers need to be mindful of this when testing those large vehicles, be they an EV or not. On the positive side, the SN at least starts to address the issue of wider, heavier vehicles – but there is a lot more to do, and I hope DVSA do take this seriously.

What Testers Should Do Now

Check your beam span (measure centre-to-centre pads)
Check SWL (minimum 2 tonnes from April 2026 for new sites)
Refuse vehicles your equipment cannot safely lift
Document decisions if declining to test