Welcome to the MOT Industry Blogs Section
The MOT Blogs section contains opinion and comment from MOT leading Industry figures and experts.
They are free to express their opinions, raise issues of interest to the MOT industry and the car – or motorcycle – owning public alike.
If you are looking for an MOT training provider, it is important to ensure they are approved by a recognised awarding organisation and that their courses meet DVSA requirements. All MOT Testers must complete approved training and hold the correct qualifications before applying to become a Nominated Tester. Before enrolling on an MOT Tester course, technicians must normally have at…
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Recently in the news the BBC highlighted the issue of the glare from LED, laser light and bi-xenon sourced headlights on modern cars. This isn’t new. For some years now people have been put off driving at night due to the blinding intensity of those modern headlamp systems. And the problem is made worse by the increasing sales of larger…
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Tyre safety, MOT failure reasons, and how garages can tackle tyre neglect. A Growing Trend: Drivers Waiting for the MOT Before Addressing Tyres Across the UK, tyre neglect remains one of the most persistent issues encountered by MOT stations and independent garages. Research consistently shows that a large percentage of drivers only replace their tyres when prompted by an MOT…
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Ghost MOTs refers to the situation where MOT Testing Stations issue MOT pass certificates on vehicles that have never been in an MOT Testing Station. This practice is advertised on some social media sites and poses a serious threat to road safety. Whilst this probably only applies to a very few dishonest Testing Station owners—or perhaps some Testers who do…
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The current MOT fee was set on 6th April 2010 – over 15 years ago at the current cost of £54.85. After the DVSA cost of the £2.05 slot fee, this leaves just £52.80 received by MOT Test Stations for an MOT vehicle examination that can take up to an hour, or even more. Are there any other costs of…
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Drivers across the UK have been warned they could face repair costs averaging £617 if they skip an MOT test or ignore necessary repairs. The warning comes amid data highlighting how many motorists are hit by unexpected breakdowns and expensive repairs when maintenance is neglected. (Original source: GB News – Millions face huge £617 repair bill without MOT test) What…
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From 10 June 2025, major changes to driving licence entitlements for zero-emission vans have come into force, designed to make it easier for businesses and drivers to adopt electric fleets. These changes have key implications for MOT garages, MOT testers, and suppliers in the EV van space. (Original source: EV Fleet World – New licence rules for heavier electric vans…
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Diesel Particulate Filters and the MOT A Parliamentary lobbying group called The Westminster Commission for Road Air Quality (WCRAQ) set up by Barry Sheerman, the Labour MP for Huddersfield, claims that up to 10 percent of diesel cars could have faulty or damaged diesel particulate filters (DPFs). The organisation has further suggested that stricter MOT Testing should be introduced to…
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Surveying its network of over 450 temporary vehicle technicians and MOT Testers during the unprecedented lockdown, Autotech Recruit has responded to calls for greater training by launching its own platform on Our Virtual Academy – enabling contractors to access FREE training. In addition, as the training provision will incorporate courses in Hybrid and Electric vehicles, the move is also set…
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Laser Tools (The Tool Connection) has announced that the company remains open for business and is fully operational, still supplying specialist tools to motor factors all over the UK and Europe; and, importantly, their technical sales advisors are still available via telephone and email and offering full support. Therefore the company remains open to support their network of customers, including…
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Following 2035 petrol and diesel ban announcement Autotech Recruit rolls out on-site EV training News recently that, under a climate change drive, the sale of petrol and diesel cars could be banned in 15 years should propel the automotive industry into addressing the serious need for vehicle technicians to be skilled in electric and hybrid vehicle servicing. According to the…
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MOT Testing Magazine’s 100th issue is in production at the moment and will be posted out to subscribers in the week commencing 11th February 2019. We thank all our subscribers and advertisers for their support and wish them a prosperous 2019 and beyond. View a sample copy here.
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We recently received this letter from a reader of the magazine – unfortunately too late for publication in the February ’15 edition, but we will include it in the May edition as we consider it to be one of the most important issues connected with MOT Testing in the UK at the moment – price cutting and fee discounting, and…
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I thought it would be good to follow up on the vehicle security, since there has been quite a bit of news recently on car thefts, in particular a piece on Watchdog on the BBC showing how easy it is to steal vehicles especially on some of the latest models. ABS Anti Braking System Module ECU. TCM Traction Control Module…
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Diesel particulate filters – and the MOT [Please note that MOT Test regulations have changed since this article was first posted – see below for revised regulations] In late September, a Labour Peer in the House of Lords, Lord Berkeley, asked the Government what on the face of it was a simple question: “what steps they are taking to warn…
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As Testers know, Special Notice 3 0 2013 took effect on 26th June this year. It mandated a new way of measuring and recording brake imbalance by using either ‘lock-up’ or ‘slippage’ readings. There is, however, a problem. In practice the new method of inspection means that what’s measured is as much the level of traction between the tyre and…
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Last summer the EU Commission, just a year after their last load of MOT revisions issued a proposed new ‘Regulation’ about MOT Testing. Within their proposals were some good ideas – getting cars off the roads with dangerous defects, for example. However an idea rumoured to stem from Germany, that a car should fail the MOT if it wasn’t exactly…
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Guess what currently appears to be an ‘heinous’ word in the motor trade vocabulary ********? It is a little word which often can be used to avoid a lot of “heartache”, particularly in the MOT testing environment; it is also a word that all successful businesses are based upon. OK! so you have guessed it is ‘TRAINING’. Now the second…
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Transponders have been around for some time on vehicles, in 1994 Ford Motor company started to fit transponders to Fiestas, Transits, Mondeos and other models. The system was called PATS (Passive Anti Theft System). This system used a Texas fixed code transponder which was used to inhibit starting. Ford PATS System Operation The PATS system uses a transponder which does…
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