IMI warns MOT testers not to miss March deadline for annual assessment

Nearly three-quarters of MOT testers are yet to take their annual assessment and risk new checks if they miss the deadline of March 31.

MOT testers are now required to submit a recent basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check if they are returning after being lapsed or suspended from testing.

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is warning that it is vital that MOT Testers ensure they have completed their annual assessment as failure to submit by the deadline includes being suspended.

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 Pells.

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.

All IMI annual assessments include full customer support to aid completion, 12 months IMI membership providing professional register recognition and the chance to win super car driving experiences, if booked and completed by the 27 February.