DVSA Invite MOT Testers To Trial New Feature

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) are asking for garages to take part in a new trial focusing on a proposed MOT feature that has not only been designed to help identify and support businesses making errors, but also tackle the small number of fraudulent tests that can happen, strengthening the system to ensure that all garages offering MOT tests can operate on a level playing field.

Vehicle Testing Stations taking part in the 6-week study will be required to take a photo before each MOT test to capture the entire vehicle clearly parked in their testing bay, replacing the current requirement of only showing the number plate as evidence.

Part of the DVSA’s aim is to also help garages and workshops avoid mistakes such as MOTs being logged against the wrong vehicle. Whilst numbers of fraudulent MOT’s are small, the DVSA report that nearly 80% of these are represented by ‘ghost MOTs’, and the new photo format will help to establish exactly when and where each vehicle is at the time of the tests being entered into the Government’s database.

Using a tablet or mobile phone, MOT testers will be prompted to take the new photos immediately after entering a vehicle’s registration number or VIN into the MOT Testing Service platform. To ensure there is no risk of photo manipulation or mistakes at this stage, previously captured images are unable to be submitted and therefore photos must be taken on the spot from the tester’s device.

Garages selected to take part in the trial can expect to be using the new feature for MOT tests starting later this month and into early March 2025. They will also have the opportunity to provide feedback throughout the process to help improve the feature before it is rolled out nationwide.

If your workshop or garage is interested in taking part in the new MOT feature trial, you can express your interest directly with the DVSA here, or alternatively you can read more about the proposed changes on the Government’s blog.

Dragon2000 help garages and MOT stations conduct their services efficiently every day with our innovative Workshop App, which is fully integrated with our garage software, the DragonDMS.

The Workshop App’s digital job cards allow technicians to clock on and off tasks remotely from their mobile devices, eliminating the need for paperwork and time spent queuing up at clocking machines. Monitoring the efficiency of your team with our mobile app also lets you make data-informed decisions that can lead to more money coming into the business.

Reports carried out in the app are easy to follow too, with condition reports letting technicians accurately pinpoint and label any bodywork issues with interactive images whenever a new car arrives onsite, while custom vehicle health checks are colour coded to speed up the VHC process for staff and clearly highlight required work for customers.

Dragon2000 have been helping car dealers, garages and MOT stations drive their businesses forward since 1995. Contact our sales team today by calling 01327 222 333 or emailing sales@dragon2000.co.uk to find out how our dealer management system, car dealer websites and mobile apps can help your business to increase profits, save valuable time and maximise efficiencies.