1) Check that you meet the eligibility rules to become an MOT tester.

2) Take an MOT tester qualification course.

3) Pass a Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency MOT demonstration test.

You can then start carrying out MOT tests at an authorised testing station.

You’ll have to take training and an assessment each year when you’re qualified.

To take an MOT testing course you must:

• have a current and full UK driving licence for the vehicle classes you want to test

• be a skilled mechanic with at least 4 years’ full-time employment servicing and 
repairing the types of vehicles you’re going to test

• have no unspent convictions for criminal offences

• be ‘of good repute’ - the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will decide this to make sure you’re suitable to be an MOT tester

To become a class 3 or 5 MOT tester you must also have already:

• got a level 2 testing certificate in class 4 and 7 vehicles (group B)

• passed an MOT demonstration test after getting your level 2 certificate

You must have an accepted qualification or accreditation if you want to test class 3, 4, 5 or 7 vehicles (cars, private buses and light commercial vehicles).

Common qualifications or accreditations

Check the full list of accepted qualifications and accreditations.

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) and Vocationally Related Qualifications (VRQs)

You can take the MOT testing course if you have a VRQ, NVQ or SVQ in:

• Vehicle Mechanical and Electronic Systems, Maintenance and Repair (light vehicle or heavy vehicle), level 3

• Vehicle Technician, Vehicle Maintenance and Repair (light vehicle or heavy vehicle), level 3

City and Guilds

You can take the MOT testing course if you have a City and Guilds qualification in:

• Automotive Qualification, NVQ level 3

• Repair and Servicing of Road Vehicles, 383 (full level 2 or 3)

• Motor Vehicle Craft Studies, modular - part 3 (requires 3 modules)

• Motor Vehicle Craft Studies, 381 (full part 2 or 3)

• Motor Vehicle Craft Studies, pre 381 syllabus (full part 2)

• Light or Heavy Vehicle Mechanics Craft Studies (full part 2 or 3)

• Motor Vehicle Technician’s Certificate (full part 1)

Other qualifications

You can also take the MOT testing course if you have one of these qualifications:

• IMI level 3 National Diploma in Vehicle Maintenance and Repair (light vehicle or heavy vehicle)

• National Craft Certification with a specialism of Vehicle Maintenance and Electronic Systems

• Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC), National Certificate or Ordinary National Certificate (ONC) in Motor Vehicle Engineering studies

• Scottish Vocational Educational Council National Certificate in Vehicle Mechanics and Systems (part 3)

Accreditations

You can take the MOT testing course if you have an Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) in:

• Light Vehicle Diagnostic Technician

• Light Vehicle Inspection Technician

You must have a valid ATA accreditation ID card. You’ll have received this when you got your qualification.

You can also take the course if you have an ABC Awards Accreditation in Vehicle Technician Accredited Assessment.

MOT tester course (class 1, 2, 4 and 7)

You must successfully complete an MOT tester qualification course to become an MOT tester.

Before the course
You need to show that you’re eligible to become an MOT tester.

How to apply
Find an MOT tester qualification course and book it with the course provider.

You have to pay to take the course. The prices vary and are set by each course provider.

What the course involves

The course will cover theory and practical training on being an MOT tester.

The course lasts at least 29 hours. You’ll spend at least 8 hours doing practical training.

There are 5 parts to the course:

• safe working practices in the vehicle test centre

• working relationships within the vehicle test centre

• managing your own professional development as an MOT tester

• carrying out pre-test checks for an MOT test

• carrying out an MOT test

Assessments in the course

The course also includes:

• a multiple-choice question test

• a practical assessment

You have to pass both to successfully complete the course.

Your course provider will give you more information on how their course works.

After you’ve done the course

When you complete the course you get a Level 2 MOT Testing Award in either:

•class 1 and 2 vehicles (group A)

•class 4 and 7 vehicles (group B)

You’ll get a certificate which you need to book and take a Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency MOT demonstration test.

MOT demonstration test (class 1, 2, 4 and 7)

You must pass an MOT demonstration test when you’ve got your level 2 MOT testing certificate.

You can do the demonstration test at either:

• the training centre where you took the qualification course

• an MOT testing station you work at (that’s open and trading)

You do not have to pay to do the demonstration test at your own testing station.

Before you book the test

Before you book the test, you need to:

• read the MOT testing manuals and special notices

• practise your inspection routine

• practise using the test equipment with different vehicles

• watch an experienced tester test different vehicles

How to book the test

You can book your demonstration test once you can carry out an MOT test without any help.

1) Sign in to the MOT testing service - your account should have been created when you did your qualification course.

2) Go to the your profile section and select qualifications.

3) Add your level 2 MOT testing certificate number, and choose where you want to do the demonstration test - you’ll need the ID/VTS number of the training centre or testing station.

4) Request a test by calling the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). You’ll need your user ID/VTS from the MOT testing service and the name and ID/VTS number of the test location you chose in step 3.

5) DVSA will call you to set a test date - this can take several weeks.
If DVSA has not called you within 4 weeks, you can call them to get an update.

DVSA
Telephone: 0300 123 9000 (choose option 2, then option 4)
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

What to bring to the test

When you take your test, make sure you bring:

• a vehicle that’s at least 3 years old, in the vehicle class you’re being tested on

• your UK driving licence and national insurance number to enable a drive licence check. (if you do not have a photocard licence you also need to take photo ID/VTS, such as your passport)

• your level 2 MOT testing award certificate

Your test will be cancelled if you do not bring these things with you.

What happens at the test

The DVSA examiner will explain what you’ll have to do. They’ll ask you to:

carry out a demonstration test
record the result in a practice version of the MOT testing service
answer some questions about the MOT

Test result

If you pass the demonstration test you can start doing MOT tests at the testing stations where you’re a registered tester. These are listed in the MOT testing service.

If you fail the demonstration test, the examiner will give you feedback and tell you what to do next.

Class 3 or 5 MOT tester training

You need to do another training course and MOT demonstration test to become a class 3 or 5 MOT tester.

Before the training course

You’ll need to show that you’ve already:

• got a level 2 testing certificate in class 4 and 7 vehicles (group B)

• passed an MOT demonstration test after getting your level 2 certificate

After you’ve done the course

You’ll get a certificate. You need this to book and take a DVSA MOT demonstration test before you can work as a class 3 or 5 MOT tester.

Do not enter the certificate details on the MOT testing service.

The demonstration test involves being tested by a DVSA examiner at either:

• the training centre where you took the qualification course

• a testing centre that tests class 3 and 5 vehicles

Preparing for the test

Prepare for the demonstration test by:

• reading the MOT testing manuals and special notices

• practicing your inspection routine

• making sure you have all the necessary documents, for example your driving licence

How to book the test

You’ll need:

• your MOT testing service user ID

• to know the vehicle test station (VTS) number where you want to have your test

Call DVSA to book your test.

DVSA customer service centre
Telephone: 0300 123 9000 (choose option 2, then option 4)
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

How the test works

The DVSA officer will do a UK driving licence check

• UK driving licence (if you do not have a photocard licence you also need to take photo 
ID, such as your passport)

• class 3 or 5 MOT training certificate

The examiner will explain what you’ll have to do. They’ll ask you to:

• carry out a demonstration test

• record the result in the training version of the MOT testing service

• answer some questions about the MOT

Test result

If you pass the demonstration test you’ll be able to do either class 3 or 5 MOT tests at testing stations authorised to test these classes.

If you fail the demonstration test, the examiner will give you feedback and tell you what to do next.

Annual training and assessment

You must complete your training and pass an assessment between April and March every year, for example between April 2016 and March 2017.

You choose when you do the training and assessment.

You’ll be responsible for:

• planning and doing your training

• recording your training and keeping evidence of it

• booking and taking the annual assessment

Returning to MOT testing

You need to do more training and take a test if you’re returning to MOT testing.

What you have to do depends on:

• why you stopped testing

• how long you stopped testing for

After a formal warning or disciplinary period

You must complete all the steps before you can test again.

Formal warning or disciplinary period of 28 days

1) Take the current year’s annual training and assessment.

2) Take extra training about the subjects you were disqualified for. For example, read the inspection manuals or take a training course. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) can ask you for evidence you’ve done it.

3) Take a DVSA MOT demonstration test.

Disciplinary period of 2 or 5 years

1) Take an MOT tester qualification course.

2) Take a DVSA MOT demonstration test.

If you stopped testing voluntarily

 You must complete all the steps before you can test again.

Stopped for between 6 months and 5 years

1) Take the current year’s annual training and assessment.

2) Take extra training. For example, read the inspection manuals or take a training course. DVSA can ask you for evidence you’ve done it.

3) Take a ‘returning to MOT testing’ demonstration test. Call DVSA to book your test.

MOT, vehicle testing and approval

Telephone: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

You’ll need to give:

• your MOT testing service user ID
• the number of the vehicle test station where you want to do the test
• the class of vehicle you want to test

Stopped for more than 5 years

Take an MOT tester qualification course.

Take a DVSA MOT demonstration test.