New MOT trial aims to tackle fraud, improve testing standards

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has launched a new trial to combat fraud in MOT testing which will see the introduction of mandatory image capture to prevent "ghost MOTs."

A mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, provided by the Vehicle Testing Station (VTS), will be used to take a photo at the start of the test which is then uploaded directly.

The roll-out of the feature is set for a late February/early March rollout, with the first trial phase allowing the DVSA to ensure that it works as expected at scale and to gather more feedback from MOT testers.

The DVSA said it would like to hear from VTS's that are interested in taking part in phase 1 of this roll-out which will be the first to see this new feature and have the opportunity to provide feedback to improve the feature.

According to the DVSA, nearly 80% of fraudulent MOTs are vehicles that have been certified without being properly tested and to counteract this issue, the agency has revised its approach to photo evidence collection, requiring images of the entire vehicle in the testing bay rather than just the number plate.

DVSA’s head of MOT policy Chris Price said: “We want to create a level playing field where high-quality testing is the standard. Capturing images at the time of the test will help prevent fraud while ensuring MOTs are conducted correctly.”

Under the new system, testers will be prompted to take a photo of the vehicle once they have entered the registration number or VIN. The image must be taken using a smartphone or tablet and uploaded directly into the MOT Testing Service (MTS). To maintain security and prevent manipulation, pre-stored images will not be accepted.

Alongside the image capture initiative, the DVSA is reinforcing cyber security for MTS accounts. In 2024, several tester accounts were compromised due to weak passwords and phishing scams. To prevent future breaches, testers are urged to use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication and stay vigilant against phishing attempts.

For further details or to sign up for the trial, visit the DVSA website.