Almost 700 MOT testers have been disqualified over the course of the last two years - 2020/21 and 2021/22. This is an increase of 49% compared to the previous two-year period, according to data obtained from the DVSA by BookMyGarage.com.
While 460 testers were disqualified in the 2018-2020 financial years, that figure rose to 687 for the subsequent two years. The disqualification of MOT testers usually occurs following improper or careless practices during the test procedure, or for issuing fraudulent certificates.
Tester disqualifications have steadily risen in recent years, with the DVSA banning nearly 3.5 times the number of testers in 2020/21 compared to 2015/16. This is an additional 252 testers in just 12 months.
The increase in disqualifications highlights the importance of drivers being vigilant when booking an MOT, ensuring it is conducted by fully compliant testers. As the DVSA continues to clamp down on illegitimate testers, the advice is to only use trusted, highly regarded garages to carry out the annual test.
Karen Rotberg, Co-founder of BookMyGarage.com, said of these figures: “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.
“The rise in disqualification numbers from the DVSA shows the importance of doing your research when booking an MOT and finding a trustworthy garage.” In the same timespan that saw a record number of disqualifications, over 1,000 warnings were issued to MOT testers, further highlighting the scale of the issue.
As well as ensuring motorists use trusted garages for their MOT, BookMyGarage.com also recommends people carry out some basic checks ahead of the test to reduce the chances of failing. This includes checking your lights, tyres, windscreen wipers, horn and mirrors, as well as giving the car a thorough clean.
A full guide on how to carry out pre-MOT checks can be found here.
