The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has completed the first phase of its ‘Images in Garages’ trial, an initiative to reduce MOT fraud by requiring photos of vehicles upon arrival.
The trial involved 170 MOT testers across 62 garages, with over 13,000 photos submitted, showing testers adapted quickly. While initial test times remained consistent, retest times saw a slight increase, which the DVSA is working to reduce.
Feedback from participating garages was largely positive, with many finding the process “easy.” However, the trial also highlighted significant industry concerns. Unsurprisingly, a dominant theme among the comments on the DVSA page was the MOT test fee, which many testers noted has not increased since 2010 despite rising operational costs. Testers like James and Andrew called for an increase to around £85-£100, arguing the current fee undervalues the service and discourages new garages from offering the serivce. Chris and Joe Underhill echoed this, suggesting the low fee contributes to “ghost testing” and compromises standards.
Logistical challenges for retest photos were also a key concern. Testers like Shy talk, Chris, and Andrew Bowen questioned the necessity of moving vehicles back onto the ramp for minor fixes (e.g., wiper blades). DVSA’s Chris Price responded, stating that while photos should ideally be in the test bay, pragmatism would be applied for minor defects, ensuring the vehicle is clearly at the test station.
Some testers, including Terry and Mark Marsden, expressed cynicism, feeling the system implies a lack of trust and that they are policing the scheme without compensation. Conversely, Nik Beckwith and Lee welcomed the initiative as a means to combat “ghost testing” and enhance road safety. David mentioned that MOT Juice provided an interview and demo video on how the system works, available on YouTube.
The DVSA plans to expand the trial, gathering further feedback to refine the system for a phased national rollout, aiming to improve road safety and combat MOT fraud.
Source: DVSA
GEOFF PEARSON
I think this policy is overdue and we would welcome it, unfortunately it only takes one bad apple to spoil the barrell and ghost testing carries on, theory is if youve got nothing to hide and this will eradicate sub standard resting centres, roll it out.
Peter Spurr
If DVSA think they have a problem with fraud then the must know the garages that they have a problem with so should be targeting them and not putting more expense and work on the honest garages who are running their mot bays at way below the average labour rate. Have DVSA not realised how many MOT test site are closing down this is another pointless aggravation
put on mot sites . I think this is an insult to honest garages doing a good job for very little money.
Darren Cooper
MOT fees should be at least £85…… Over 15 years since the last price increase is absurd
Yes to combatting fraud but concentrate on the people committing the fraud – Both the garages AND the owners of the vehicles involved – Not rocket science is it -Especially with all the CCTV / ANPR cameras around
Come on – Lets all get this sorted
m. holding
I have no problems with any improvement to testing standards however the fee should be at least £85 and be mandatory this would solve a lot of dodgy test centres because there would be no benefit going to the dodgy ones and everbody is running on a level playing field
Steve Fletcher
We started phase 2 of the trials on Monday and all seems OK so far. Retests are photographed in the yard unless i need to check headlamp aims or emissions/brake readings. Whilst the test fee would stand reassesment, it would help if it was mandatory – if we did’nt discount, i doubt we’d have a fraction of the tests we do now!
Colin Baker
Can we have a back dated pay upgrade like the NHS/Government workers too?
Not likely I think so we should up date the fee ASAP.
Eddie Pascoe
Nett zero is killing the garage business as people cannot afford to run cars anymore especially if they are second or classics. Putting up the MOT fee will only exacerbate this problem and it will actually come to hurt the MOT testers. Anyone saying the MOT Bay has to earn 85 pounds an hour is a donkey. We know that 54 pounds 85 is money for old rope.
mark mitchell
LOOK AT HOW MUCH IT COST TO RUN A STATION I HAVE TO PAY MY TESTER 32K UP HERE IN SCOTLAND IF ITS IN THE BIG CITYS 38K THE REPAIRS IS KEEPING US GOING BUT MOTS ARE A LOSS LEADER