How To Become an Accredited MOT Test Centre

Here’s everything you should learn about how garages could become an approved MOT test center, and how to become an MOT tester accredited.

VOSA currently receives around five thousand applications each year for training new MOT testers. there are 22,500 accredited MOT garages in the UK.

What can a garage do to become an MOT test center?

First, get an understanding of the Requirements for Authorisation 2009 from the VOSA website at https://www.gov.uk/. These specifications will provide the minimum dimensions that are required to be able to design the various designs for the class of vehicles that garages are looking to test. The plans for the test area should be sketched out and scaled. The plans should then be delivered in the area VOSA office, along with the complete VT01 request form.

At this stage, no groundwork are to be initiated only after an agreement in Principle is obtained from VOSA will excavations take place. After the work has been completed then VOSA will examine the site to make sure it is in line with the plans that were originally presented.

A Authorised Examiner (AE) will be required to attend a mandatory 2-day MOT training manager training course in one of the VOSA’s training centres across the country. The course is for free to the designated AE. Any additional courses required by the site manager or any other staff members will be paid for.

Do you make a visit to them prior to when they become an accredited center?

There will be at minimum one inspection to make sure that the location is in line with the agreed-upon site plans accepted in the agreement in Principle process. Based on the circumstances, there could be additional visits before the garage is officially signed off as fully functioning MOT test station.

How many MOT bay applications are you getting and how many of them are accepted?

We get a number of applications each year, some of which go off the radar due to the size limitations or financial changes of the applicants or who have a change in heart. Since 2005, when MOT Computerisation was first introduced, the number of authorized garages has increased from 18,400 to approximately 22,500.

What exactly is the process of training to become an MOT certified approved tester?

The first step is that the candidate must be suggested by an existing garage that is authorised. The VT78 form has to be completed by the person applying and signed by an Authorised Examiner of the nominating garage. The application must be accompanied by copies of the applicant’s qualifications.

If they do not have or do not possess the necessary qualifications, the applicant must first to take an NTTA test at the nearest VOSA site. It is an 1.5hr multiple choice test with a focus on vehicle technology. This test is designed to demonstrate that the knowledge of the candidate is comparable to an individual with the correct qualifications.

After the application has been received from VOSA The form will be inspected for evidence of qualification as well as driver’s license information, and nominations from the AE. This is among the primary reason for the refusal.

The candidate then has to take and pass an intensive 3-day training course at the local VOSA training facility. There are two tests which are based on MOT requirements and another that tests the usage of computers. Both tests must be completed before the candidate can be admitted to the next stage.

The next step is to perform the routine at their home site prior to telling the local Area that they are now ready to take their test. Once the test is successful, the tester will be allowed to start the testing process in the MOT garage.

Anyone can test at any of the testing stations as that at each station, the AE has approved and they are as testers on the testing list at the particular station.

If someone is looking to MOT examine a range of different types of vehicles, is he/she required to complete the necessary instruction for each class or does it all come together in one?

There are two different training courses that cover motorcycles; one of which and the other one covers the classes 3-4, and 7. The motorcycle training course lasts two days long and includes both motorbikes. The test taker must have an appropriate license before they can be admitted into the training system. Classes 3, 4,, and 7 course is a 3- day training course. Again, the tester must present their license before the course begins or they’ll be disqualified from entry.

What kind of changes do you think will be made to testing for MOT in the near future?

The changes will be based on the legislation of the EU and our own government.

The year 2015 will see MOT Computerisation’s ending of the contract currently in place with VOSA for MOT Computerisation and the introduction of a new contract. VOSA is at present working to develop MOT Comp2. As of now, it’s evident that MOT Comp2 will web connected and every Test Station will need to have their own equipment and internet connection.

Additional information will be made available to testers and garages alike via The Matters of Testing on-line publication.

In the test test fees page of the document, it states the classes 4a and 5a as “N/A” in the first MOT required (years) column. Does this mean these vehicles do not require an MOT, or that they must be tested when new?

The classes 4a/5a are primarily for vehicles in Class 4 and 5 that require a seat belt inspection. It is a test of the seatbelts as well as the mountings of belts that are installed over and above the requirements of legislation. This mostly covers non-type approved vehicles, so the vehicle could be of any time. The majority of vehicles that are that are covered by the classes are type-approved from 2001.
The feedback we receive from customers of classic cars is that they’re still getting their cars inspected because they are legally bound to obligation to keep their vehicle in good roadworthy condition . An MOT is proof of this. Are you seeing any effects in the transition to no longer test the classic car?

The businesses that deal with classic automobiles have seen a decrease in the number of cars being tested before the vehicles from pre 1960 were made exempt from testing on the 18th of November 2012. This includes ALL kinds of vehicles, including motorbikes buses. Commercial vehicles have enjoyed this exemption for a while provided they’re not being employed for hire or as reward. However, we don’t have any data to back their comments or any other.

While cars built prior to 1960 do not have to be tested for MOT, owners must still ensure that their vehicle is in good roadworthy condition at least to the extent of the MOT requirement.