What is an MOT Test?

The MOT is a regular examination of the condition of cars and light commercial vehicles in mainland Britain. It is required annually on all vehicles over three years old with one or two very minor exceptions – small ‘breakdown’ trucks are one example.

History – and why it’s called the ‘MOT’

Following the second world war and into the late 1950s most people purchased second hand cars and light vans, many of which were originally manufactured before 1940 and vast numbers of which were not in ‘tip top’ condition, nor were they regularly serviced. As a result there were numerous vehicles being used on the road which were potentially dangerous. In particular they often had defective brakes, lights and/or steering.

As a result of this, in 1960 the then Ministry of Transport under the direction of the Minister of Transport Mr Ernest Marples decided that all vehicles over ten years old should have their brakes, lights and steering checked every year. This became known as the “ten year Test”, or alternatively the Ministry Of Transport Test – which became shortened to ‘MOT’. The Testable age was progressively reduced to 3 years by April 1967.

Over the years the MOT Test has been extended and expanded to become the comprehensive examination known today. And the Test is developing all the time. The major addition since the early 1990's has been exhaust emission testing using some very high tech equipment. 

A significant development of the MOT has resulted from Britain being members of the European Union. All vehicle Testing is now decided by EU Directives which set minimum standards for Vehicle Testing in member states. Each state can, however, decide to install more stringent  regulations . For example, in many EU countries testing is carried out every two years – the basic EU minimum, whereas in Britain it is on an annual basis.

There are now over 18,000 Testing Stations in Britain and 50,000 MOT Testers.

Who’s in charge of the MOT?

The Government

From the start the British Government decided that the annual vehicle check should be carried out by locally situated repair and service garages thus ensuring that any motorist would have a local ‘MOT Testing Station’ who could provide a convenient service. On the other hand the Ministry of Transport were very keen to make sure that there was a uniform set of MOT Testing standards throughout the country and so they insisted that if a garage wished to become a Testing Station that they used only approved equipment and also carried out the Tests to a set of standards laid down by the Department of Transport.

This system remains to this day, with the Government in overall charge of MOT Testing, but now through an Executive Agency called VOSA (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency)  responsible directly to Parliament, and also to the Secretary of State for Transport.

The Testing Garage

The local MOT garage does, however, carry responsibility for the quality of day to day Testing at that Testing Station. The garage, either through the individual, the company or the partnership if that is how it is set up, becomes what is known as the Authorised Examiner (AE), having been authorised by the Vehicle Inspectorate to carry out MOT Tests on their behalf. So generally, but not necessarily the AE is the owner of the business or the business itself.
In turn the AE has the power to nominate specially trained individuals to carry out MOT Testing on customers’ cars. So the official name for an MOT Tester is Nominated Tester (NT) because he or she has been nominated by the AE. It should be noted that this is why it is impossible for aspiring young MOT Testers to go to college and learn the profession – they have first to be trained at a Testing Garage and then nominated by the AE.
An aspiring Tester also has to have either a certain minimum formal qualification or sit a special examination  before then going on a two day course set up by VOSA to master the intricacies of the test itself.

So your local Testing station is in charge of the Tests they do, but the Government, through VOSA is responsible overall for the general quality of MOT Testing. To do this they have about 300 experts called Vehicle Examiners who as part of their role monitor  the performance of test stations in their areas – but they also have other jobs as well. Not many people to keep an eye on nearly 20,000 Testing Stations and 50,000 Testers!

Computerisation.

For the last few years the computer giant Siemans has along with VOSA been developing a computerized system that is truly mind boggling. Their remit was to link every test station in the country to a central data base, so that all Mot details, passes, failures, advisory notes etc are kept on this system The roll out program began in early 2005 and was completed by the end of March 2006. Although not without hiccups and problems this largest network in the world was originally hated by testers but is now performing well.