The DVSA is urging garages to adapt to major changes or they could see the number of MOT testers dwindle and potentially lead to a huge backlog of tests available for drivers.
New rules will be introduced from March 31 at which point MOT testers need to have completed their MOT annual training and assessment or face being suspended.
While nearly 80 per cent of MOT testers have completed this year's MOT annual training and assessment, the DVSA said people in the garages who do not successfully complete the annual assessment and have it recorded against their MTS profile by March 31, 2024, will have their testing status switched to suspended.
If testers wish to resume their work, they must complete the current year's MOT annual training and annual assessment in addition to successfully completing a demonstration test with a DVSA vehicle examiner.
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MOT testers could be suspended from their garages if they fail to complete new measures
The MOT test checks whether a vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards, drivers must get an MOT by either the third anniversary of its registration or by the anniversary of its last MOT or if it’s over three years old.
As of January 8, 2024, MOT garages must submit a basic DBS check for people in certain groups.
This includes new testers, an existing tester adding an additional group (A or B), a tester returning after a disciplinary period of 28 days or a longer cessation of two or five years, or a tester returning after being lapsed or suspended from testing.
Hayley Pells, policy and public affairs lead at the Institute of the Motor Industry said: “This could have a serious impact on garages’ ability to complete MOT testing, and ultimately their customer satisfaction and profitability.
"Garages therefore need to support their technicians in their training and assessments to avoid any impact on the business.
“MOT testers who fail to meet the deadline will not only lose their ability to conduct any MOT work until their training and assessment has been completed, and their DBS check has been approved.”
Any MOT testers who miss the deadline will have to demonstrate to a DVSA representative face-to-face, in their place of work, their ability to carry out an MOT test on a vehicle, IMI added.
Last week, the DVSA revealed that from April 29 it will no longer issue paper MOT pass certificates for certain drivers as it moves to becoming more environmentally friendly.
The move forms part of the agency’s digital transformation which saw the roll out of the new Manage Your Vehicle Testing digital service across vehicle testing.
MOT garages and pre-funded account holders will have a digital account to manage their transactions with the DVSA to help streamline the process while helping be more environmentally friendly.
In a blog post, the DVSA said: “We’re asking businesses to start thinking about how you can implement these changes.
“We will be working with industry and frontline colleagues to ensure everyone is aware of these changes.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The DVSA revealed that from April it will no longer issue paper MOT pass certificates for certain drivers
PA“Now that digital certificates are available, from April 29 this year we are going to stop printing MOT pass certificates, by default, at the time of the test.”