Back to: MOT Site Management Training Volume 3

When you take on a Tester at your MOT Centre you need to do some due diligence, this applies to agency testers too.

  • Check their Training log – do they have the required 5 year history (depending on how long they have been testing).
  • Check their Assessment Results – have the consistently passed the exam each year.
  • Ask the tester to show you their MTS Event History, this will show any issues the DVSA have had with them.
    • Previous disciplinary
    • Formal warnings
  • Driving Licence Check – Check the tester can drive the vehicles they are to be testing.
  • Ask for a DBS Check, make sure the tester has no unspent convictions as defined in the MOT Testing Guide – Appendix 7
  • Ask them to do a demo test with an experienced MOT Tester to check their Testing Standards

MOT Testing Guide – Appendix 7

The DVSA must be notified of all convictions as described in this appendix immediately for any individual involved in the MOT scheme. The responsibility to notify the DVSA of any conviction lies with both the AE and the individual who holds the role in the MOT scheme.

An AE is responsible for making the necessary checks on an individual prior to assigning them any role within their authorisation, ensuring they are free of any convictions as described in this appendix.

All notifications of conviction should be sent directly to MOT administration.

This includes cases where a conviction has taken place, but sentencing is pending.

When a sentence has been applied the notification must include a DBS certificate dated after the conviction. If sentencing has not been completed a court extract (or extract decree for Scottish convictions) must be included with the notification.

When the person has been sentenced, DVSA will require a further DBS certificate (dated after sentencing).

Conviction Criteria

The DVSA understand that certain convictions can be emotive in nature and as such DVSA will take into consideration any conviction which is defined to be a serious offence.

The DVSA considers a serious offence to be defined as any criminal conviction of an individual or business entity to which that individual had an association to, where any of the following has been imposed:

  • a prison sentence (including suspended sentences) of three months or more
  • a fine exceeding level 4 on the standard scale (currently £2500)
  • a community service order (or equivalent) requiring unpaid work for more than 60 hours
  • any punishment outside the UK corresponding to the above

If the conviction does not fall under these categories then the conviction will be considered acceptable for participation within the MOT scheme, unless there are grounds for consideration as part of an individual’s good repute.