MOT tester disqualifications triple

There has been a huge increase in the number of MOT testers disqualified in the past two years. Worse still, the latest news is part of a longer-term trend, with disqualifications having been on the up for years. Indeed, nearly 3.5 times more MOT testers are being disqualified now compared with six years ago.

Almost 700 MOT testers have been disqualified in the last two years (2020/21 and 2021/22), a rise of 49 per cent compared to the previous two years, according to data obtained from the DVSA as part of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request lodged by BookMyGarage.com. Specifically, 460 MOT testers were disqualified in 2018-2020 financial years, compared to the 687 MOT testers disqualified in 2020-2022 financial years. And while there were 687 disqualifications in the past two financial years, there was over a thousand warnings issued to MOT testers in the same time span.

3 rogue MOT testers in every city?

MOTs and vehicle repairs are a huge industry. Surely it could just be a few bad apples. So, what about the scale of the issue in relation to the size of the market? Analysis by scrapcarcomparison.co.uk relating to the earlier end of the MOT data suggested that every city in the UK could have a problem MOT tester. Shockingly, that claim was made, based on the 98 MOT testers disqualified across the UK’s 69 cities during the figures provided for the 2015/16 year. Back then, an already-alarming 353 testing centres were warned about their conduct and procedures.

So, if 700 MOT testers were disqualified in the two years between 2020/21 and 2021/2022, that means an average of 350.5 were disqualified each year. And since 98 testers were disqualified in 2015/16 (2013/14: 195; 2014/15: 137), that means we are currently more than triple historic levels. Similarly, the number of warnings issued in the last year are almost three-times the levels of six years ago.

In other words, if there was one rogue MOT tester in each city in 2015/16, statistically there must be at least three problem testers in each city now.

The disqualification of MOT testers usually occurs following improper or careless practices during the test procedure, or for issuing fraudulent certificates. A common reason of disqualification of a tester and prosecution of a garage, according to sarpcarcomparison.co.uk, is helping friends and family escape huge costs. With double-digit interest rates constricting consumer spending, and with consumers and the trade both facing a cost-of-living crisis, such pressures are more likely now than ever.

The DVSA state that they will pursue and prosecute those who defraud the system by issuing pass certificates without carrying out the test. Furthermore, the DVSA says it will investigate all reports of MOT fraud and take immediate action.

“Anyone attempting to defraud the MOT isn’t just committing fraud, they’re also putting the public at risk by allowing what could be an unsafe car onto the road,” said a scrapcarcompariso.co.uk spokesperson, adding: “Although most garage owners and MOT testers follow the rules, there are still those who try to cheat the system.”

“We welcome the disqualification of rogue MOT testers, as it grants peace of mind that vehicles on the road are being inspected properly. This ultimately improves safety for all road users,” Karen Rotberg, Co-founder of BookMyGarage.com commented, adding:

“The rise in disqualification numbers from the DVSA shows the importance of doing your research when booking an MOT and finding a trustworthy garage.”

Such is the scale of the issue, it would also suggest that the wider passenger car MOT testing business sector – which includes a growing number of fast-fits and tyre specialists – would benefit from increasing investment in training and branch governance.