MOT Compliance: The Warning Signs Testing Stations Shouldn’t Ignore

Running a compliant MOT station involves considerably more than ensuring individual testers carry out tests correctly, with garages being urged to pay closer attention to test data, quality control and tester performance.

The warning comes from Autotech Training following the publication of the latest DVSA MOT enforcement figures, which show 288 MOT testers and 145 Authorised Examiners (AEs) had their approval or authorisation withdrawn during 2025/26.

But rather than viewing the figures simply as evidence of enforcement activity, Rob Walsh, Head of MOT at Autotech Training, believes garages should use them as a prompt to examine how effectively their own MOT operation is being managed.

“The vast majority of MOT businesses and testers take their responsibilities extremely seriously,” said Walsh.

“These are busy businesses, often operating under considerable pressure, and compliance is just one of many things a workshop manager may be dealing with on any given day.

“That’s why I don’t think these figures should be used to scare garages. They should prompt a conversation about whether the people responsible for an MOT operation have the time, knowledge and processes they need to manage it effectively.”

MOT compliance is a management responsibility

For an Authorised Examiner or AEDM, effective MOT management extends well beyond checking that testers have completed their annual training and assessment.

Someone within the business needs to maintain oversight of the entire MOT operation, including quality control, equipment, test logs, tester performance, training and changes to DVSA requirements.

The challenge is ensuring these responsibilities receive sufficient attention alongside the day-to-day demands of running a busy workshop.

There were 66,925 nominated MOT testers operating in 2025/26, according to the latest DVSA figures, compared with 66,144 two years earlier.

Over the same period, the number of private MOT testing stations changed comparatively little, from 23,168 in 2023/24 to 23,092 in 2025/26.

The increase in tester numbers does not itself indicate a compliance problem, but Walsh believes it reinforces the need for effective oversight at individual Vehicle Testing Stations.

“As the number of testers increases, making sure there is clear and effective oversight at site level becomes even more important,” he said.

“An MOT operation isn’t simply about making sure individual testers know how to conduct a test correctly.

“Someone has to maintain oversight of the whole operation – from annual training and QC checks through to equipment, test logs, tester performance and keeping up with changes from DVSA.”

What should MOT managers be looking for?

One of the most useful resources available to an MOT station is the data it already generates.

Test logs, test durations, pass and fail rates, advisory patterns and individual tester performance can all help build a picture of what is normal for a particular station.

The important point is not to assume that unusual data automatically means a tester is doing something wrong. Different testers, vehicle types and customer profiles can produce legitimate variations.

Instead, unusual patterns should provide a reason to look more closely and, where necessary, ask questions.

Potential areas for managers to keep under review include:

• significant differences in pass and fail rates between testers
• unusual changes in advisory rates or the types of defects being recorded
• testing times that appear significantly different from normal patterns
• repeated quality control issues
• missing or overdue training and assessment requirements
• equipment maintenance or calibration issues
• unusual activity within MOT test logs
• recurring tester performance concerns

Looking at one figure in isolation may tell a manager very little. Looking at trends over time, and understanding what is normal for the individual station, can be much more valuable.

Data is only useful if somebody reviews it

Walsh believes access to MOT data is only part of the answer.

“Most MOT businesses already have a lot of the information they need. Test logs, testing times, pass and fail rates, advisories and individual tester performance can all help identify when something looks unusual.

“But data on its own doesn’t manage an MOT station. Somebody needs to understand what they’re looking at, know what normal looks like for their site and testers, and have the confidence to ask questions when something doesn’t add up.”

That distinction is important.

A garage can have QC records, tester data and management processes in place, but they are of limited value if nobody routinely reviews the information or acts when something requires further investigation.

Effective compliance management should therefore be an active process rather than simply a collection of records retained in case DVSA asks to see them.

Warning signs can appear before a serious problem

Autotech Training says it has previously supported a multi-site automotive business that faced serious DVSA disciplinary action following the actions of an individual tester.

A subsequent review identified warning signs within the company’s MOT data which, according to Autotech, could potentially have allowed the business to intervene earlier if they had been recognised.

It is an important lesson for other MOT businesses.

Individual testers are responsible for conducting tests correctly, but those responsible for managing a Vehicle Testing Station also need sufficient visibility of what is happening across the operation.

That becomes particularly important where a business operates several MOT lanes, employs multiple testers or runs more than one testing station.

A manager cannot realistically observe every MOT.

Regularly reviewing performance and test data therefore provides another opportunity to identify something that may require attention.

Quality control should lead to action

Quality control is another area where completing the required process should not necessarily be considered the end of the job.

If a QC check identifies an issue, managers should consider what caused it and whether corrective action, additional training or further monitoring is required.

The same principle applies when reviewing tester performance.

An unusual result does not necessarily mean wrongdoing or poor testing. There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation.

But consistently ignoring unusual patterns removes an opportunity to identify training needs, procedural problems or more serious concerns before they escalate.

This is particularly relevant as DVSA continues to place importance on management oversight and the integrity of MOT testing.

What happens if DVSA disciplinary action starts?

Even well-managed MOT stations can find themselves dealing with questions or disciplinary correspondence from DVSA.

Where that happens, understanding the disciplinary process and responding appropriately can become extremely important.

MOT Shield, available through Motester, provides MOT Testing Stations with access to experienced MOT consultants if they receive disciplinary correspondence from DVSA.

The subscription service includes direct access to an MOT consultant and written representation throughout a covered disciplinary case, with the consultant’s representation fees included.

MOT Shield is not a replacement for good management, quality control or maintaining DVSA standards. Nor is it a general compliance, training or QC service.

Instead, it provides professional support and representation when a subscribed MOT business finds itself facing DVSA disciplinary action.

For independent and smaller MOT stations in particular, it means the business does not have to deal with a potentially serious disciplinary case without experienced support.

More information about MOT Shield and the protection available can be found on the Motester website.

MOT Shield | Affordable Protection | MOT Testing

Don’t wait for a DVSA visit

Professional representation can be valuable once disciplinary action has started, but prevention remains the better position for any MOT business.

Walsh argues that regular oversight is preferable to MOT compliance receiving attention only immediately before or after a DVSA visit.

“Good MOT management shouldn’t be about adding another burden to an already busy workshop. It’s about making sure responsibility is clear, the right checks are happening, and managers know what to look for.

“Most importantly, don’t wait until there’s a DVSA visit or a problem has already surfaced before looking closely at your MOT operation.

“Giving it regular attention protects the business, supports your testers and helps maintain the standards the MOT scheme is there to deliver.”

A practical MOT management checklist

For AEs, AEDMs and MOT managers, the practical message is to make compliance part of normal workshop management rather than treating it as a separate exercise carried out occasionally.

That means knowing who is responsible for each aspect of the MOT operation, ensuring training and assessments remain current, carrying out meaningful quality control, keeping equipment requirements under review and regularly examining test logs and performance data.

Managers should also understand what normal testing activity looks like within their own business.

When something changes significantly or an unusual pattern develops, asking why at an early stage can be considerably easier than explaining why it was not investigated later.

The latest DVSA enforcement figures demonstrate that the consequences of serious MOT compliance failures can be significant.

But effective MOT management is not simply about avoiding disciplinary action.

Done properly, it provides garages with an opportunity to identify training needs, support their testers, improve consistency and address potential problems before they become much more difficult to resolve.

External Sources / Further Reading

DVSA – MOT Testing Data for Great Britain
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/mot-testing-data-for-great-britain

DVSA – MOT Testing Guide: Discipline
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-testing-guide/i-discipline

DVSA – MOT Testing Guide: Appendix 8 – Disciplinary Procedures
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-testing-guide/appendix-8-disciplinary-procedures

DVSA – MOT Testing Guide: System Rules, User Roles and Quality Control
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-testing-guide/m-system-rules-and-user-roles

DVSA – MOT Tester Annual Training and Assessment
https://www.gov.uk/mot-tester-training-assessments

Autotech Training
https://autotechtraining.co.uk/