“Ghost MOTs” sold on TikTok despite new regulations

Unscrupulous mechanics exploit online platforms to offer fraudulent MOT certificates

MOT sign
Image: Newspress

Unscrupulous mechanics are exploiting social media platforms to sell fraudulent “ghost MOTs,” despite the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) introducing new regulations to combat the practice.

“Ghost MOTs” involve issuing MOT certificates without physically inspecting the vehicle. MailOnline discovered accounts on Instagram, TikTok, and Telegram offering these services for fees as low as £100.

Drivers provide their vehicle’s registration, VIN, and mileage, and a certificate is issued within two days. The DVSA’s new rules require mechanics to upload a photo of the vehicle on the garage ramp during the test. However, some providers claim they will use AI tools to circumvent this requirement.

The practice is financially lucrative for garages, as ghost MOTs can command up to four times the price of a legitimate inspection. Drivers also use them to avoid costly repairs.

Fraudulent MOTs undermine road safety. In a previous case, two mechanics were jailed for issuing fraudulent certificates, with a judge stating they had “gambled with people’s lives.”

Social media platforms are used to advertise these services. Accounts on Instagram and TikTok openly offer “passes without seeing vehicle.” The MailOnline contacted several accounts posing as buyers and were directed to Telegram groups to arrange purchases.

One provider claimed they would use AI to bypass the DVSA’s photo requirement. They also stated that the new regulations had increased the price of ghost MOTs.

The DVSA is trialling the photo requirement to deter fraudulent practices. They acknowledge that enforcement examiners will continue to play a crucial role in tackling fraud.

TikTok has removed some accounts after being alerted by the MailOnline, but others remain active. Instagram is investigating the flagged content.

Source: Daily Mail

12 Comments

  1. The photo upload process is still in trials, so I doubt the criminals are needing to use AI at this stage guys. Call me if you ned the real facts Barry – MOT Juice

    Reply
    • its a shame the “customer” is not the one being sent to jail as they know what they are doing.

      Reply
  2. There were lads advertising ghost MOTs on facebook for £80 but the customer got nothing. I reported it three times but they continued to advertise. It came to my attention when a member of the public phoned me to ask where his MOT was as the guy on Facebook said I was doing his MOT. I reported it to DVSA but nothing happened and he continued to advertise for months and I had three further people phone up for their non existent MOTs. They advertised in every city in the UK.

    Reply
  3. It can’t be too hard to trace these fraudsters
    The owner MUST also be prosecuted to then deter 1/2 the people using these fakes

    If the Mot was a realistic £90 then the fakes would also be out priced
    The Govt have seriously under valued the Mot tester
    Things have to change

    Reply
    • It is a scam on both ends I believe. The scamsters are offering a ghost mot, taking the cash and not providing anything in return. Who is the customer going to complain to. They never had access to a station, merely taking the money and running.

      Reply
  4. It has been going on for years !

    Just like the government is going to review the price of Mot Tests, don’t hold your breath.

    If they had increased the price of Mot’s, inline with everything else over that past 14/15 years, then DVSA would be able to afford to employ more enforcement officers to deal with these clowns.

    Reply
  5. It has been going on for years !

    Just like the government is going to review the price of Mot Tests, don’t hold your breath.

    If they had increased the price of Mot’s inline with everything else over the past 14/15 years, then DVSA would be able to afford to employ more enforcement officers to deal with these Clowns.

    Reply
  6. GHOST MOTs!!! How did they see those!!!!

    Reply
  7. Completely agree with the vehicles presenter ( owner ) as if you was caught in illegal activates or known as to be involved in something illegal the judge would automatically say they are a accomplice or an accessory to the crime committed, but criminal law is different from driving 🙁
    but isn’t it the vehicles keeper is responsible of the upkeep of there car it just means more cost to the vts and more pressure and testing for the tester

    Reply
  8. The current MOT as it stands, is only a cash cow for the government and local garages. The rest of Europe and other western countries have a vehicle road worthy check every two years, most states in the US none at all. All car manufactures build their cars to a standard of build quality that years ago wouldn’t of been thought, so every two years would suffice, and an MOT should only be to check points on the car that make it road worthy, it’s to involved now and open to abuse from rogue garages.

    Reply
  9. The mot test is undervalued quite simply: no increase in mot tests last god knows how many years, yet garage overheads to operate have doubled, making it impossible to increase mot testers’ salaries to let them know their value to your business is recognized to encourage loyalty and honesty, just very hard to make it work and be worthwhile running a mot station and repair business I sold my Garage and now operate as a mobile Mechanic and so Much Happier and I would never go back and I can’t wait to retire and tinker with my own wheels.

    Reply
  10. We do not know what Nick does for a living, but only this week we had a 2011 Mondeo (350828km) travelling from Ireland to Germany recovered in by the AA with a front disc that had split in two and Four Bald tyres. TWO YEAR MOT What fool would be happy to accept that.
    MOT’S are not finically viable at present

    Reply

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