Many MOT testers still need to take Annual Assessment

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has reminded MOT testers that they must take their Annual Assessment before the 31 March deadline. Testers will face new checks if they miss this deadline. As of 8 January 2024, MOT testers are required to submit a recent basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check if they are “returning after being lapsed or suspended from testing – this includes being suspended for not completing your annual assessment.” The IMI said an estimated 73 per cent had yet to complete their assessment with just two months to go before the deadline.

DBS checks are also now required for new testers, existing testers adding another test group and those returning to testing after a disciplinary period of 28 days or a longer cessation of two or five years.

Hayley Pells, IMI Policy and public Affairs lead 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 lose their ability to conduct any MOT work until their training and assessment has been completed, and their DBS check has been approved”, added Hayley.

Any MOT testers who do miss the deadline will have to competently demonstrate to a DVSA representative face-to-face, in their place of work, their ability to carry out an MOT test on a vehicle. Before they can book this demonstration test, technicians will need to submit a DBS certificate to the DVSA online. Technicians without DBS checks conducted within three months of the test date will need to request one, and these can take many weeks to be processed and a certificate received. Failing to complete the assessment in time could, therefore, have serious consequences both for garage income and road safety.