Become an MOT tester

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1. Overview

  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.

2. Eligibility

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.

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.

3. 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 16 hours (with at least 4 hours of practical training) if it’s for class 1 and 2 vehicles (group A)
  • at least 29 hours (with at least 8 hours of practical training) if it’s for class 4 and 7 vehicles (group B)

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.

4. 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.

Before you book the test

Before you book the test, you need to:

If your DBS certificate shows a criminal record

You will not be able to take the MOT demonstration test if your DBS certificate shows you’ve had any of the following:

  • a prison sentence of 3 months or more (including suspended sentences)
  • a fine of more than £2,500
  • an order to do unpaid work for more than 60 hours
  • any equivalent sentence or fine outside the UK

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 number of the training centre or testing station.

  4. Request a test online. You’ll need your user ID from the MOT testing service and the name and ID number of the test location you chose in step 3.

  5. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (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 (if you do not have a photocard licence you also need to take photo ID, 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.

5. 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

How to apply

You can book a class 3 or 5 training course by contacting these approved course providers. The prices vary and are set by each course provider.

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

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:

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

Request a test online.

You can also call DVSA to book your test if you cannot use the online service.

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

A DVSA examiner will check your:

  • 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.

6. Annual training and assessment

You must complete your training and pass an assessment between April and March every year, for example between April 2023 and March 2024.

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

7. 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. Get a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

  4. Take a DVSA MOT demonstration test.

Disciplinary period of 2 or 5 years

  1. Take an MOT tester qualification course.

  2. Get a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

  3. 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. Get a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

  4. Take a ‘returning to MOT testing’ demonstration test. Request a test online.

You can also call DVSA to book your test if you cannot use the online service.

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

  1. Take an MOT tester qualification course.

  2. Get a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

  3. Take a DVSA MOT demonstration test.