DVSA rolls out new MOT risk rating system

All testers and testing stations now have individual risk ratings in bid to improve standards and catch fraudsters

DVSA rolls out new MOT risk rating system
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The DVSA has this week rolled-out its new MOT risk rating system which aims to improve MOT quality and catch more fraudsters.

Garages will now be awarded either a red, amber or green rating based on analysis of tester data and the results of an improved site assessment.

The new site assessment focuses on compliance and the test itself, with DVSA examiners carrying out more checks on recently tested vehicles, while a ‘site review’ involves a shorter check on systems and processes in the garage.

Authorised examiners and site managers can use test quality reports for information on their testers’ testing profile.

New MOT risk rating explained

  • Red (higher risk): You must look into the reasons you’re rated as higher risk, and make sure you’re testing to the right standard and following all the right processes.
  • Amber (medium risk): You should look into the reasons you’re rated as a medium risk, and check you’re testing to the right standard and following all the right processes.
  • Green (lower risk): You should still check you’re testing to the right standard and following all the right processes.

MOT testers

The DSVA will calculate the tester’s rating on MOT data held within the MOT testing service computer system such as the time taken to complete tests, how many tests a tester carries out and the results of tests.

MOT testers whose information greatly varies from the national average will get a higher rating.

The agency warned that “the detail of how that will be calculated will change over time” as it works to ensure testers “can’t manipulate the data to make themselves appear good”.

While a high rating does not necessarily mean that the tester is doing something wrong, testers should consider the reasons why.

Only MOT testers can see their individual risk rating and it is the tester’s choice whether or not to share this information with anyone.

Monitoring standards

MOT test quality information is available on the MOT testing service and should be used as a starting point to monitor test standards.

Chris Price of the DVSA said: “In this new system, every tester and testing station will now have an individual risk rating.

“This will make it easy for you to know when you should look into something and allow us to support you if you need help.

“It also means we can target our enforcement action at the minority of testers and testing stations who are either persistently poor-performing or deliberately not following the standards.

“As with every change we make, we’ll keep checking that it’s working the way it’s intended, and will make any tweaks that are needed.”

Do you think the DVSA’s new MOT risk rating is a step in the right direction? Share your comments below.

Home Page Forums DVSA rolls out new MOT risk rating system

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  • #167059 Reply

    The DVSA has this week rolled-out its new MOT risk rating system which aims to improve MOT quality and catch more fraudsters.

    Garages will now be awarded either a red, amber or green rating based on analysis of tester data and the results of an improved site assessment.

    The new site assessment focuses on compliance and the test itself, with DVSA examiners carrying out more checks on recently tested vehicles, while a ‘site review’ involves a shorter check on systems and processes in the garage.

    Authorised examiners and site managers can use test quality reports for information on their testers’ testing profile.

    [See the full post at: DVSA rolls out new MOT risk rating system]

    #167077 Reply
    Peter
    Guest

    So we test vehicles to make sure they meet a minimum standard , yes I can see the reason behind this assesment but it puts testers in a very difficult spot , it gets to the stage where you have failed so many cars on a certain item and blow me the next vehicle you test has the same fault , now you think to yourself “do I do my job right and fail it which may put me in the amber – red bracket or do I let it go and take a chance and stay green”. One very big step backwards if you ask me .
    Another way of putting a nail in us small boys coffin perhaps !

    #167078 Reply
    richard west
    Guest

    SO RED AMBER OR GREEN YOU ARE STILL NOT TESTING CORRECTLY

    #167080 Reply
    Ken Ashton
    Guest

    I cant imagine how analysis of data tells whether a tester is doing a correct job . I ,for instance take a little longer than my son who is younger than me . In what way is this wrong ? No customers are held up and I feel we are both testing correctly and fairly . Also the word “risk” is not very well chosen . Surely there will be different failure patterns according to locality / types of car etc.

    #167081 Reply
    Andrew
    Guest

    But you can still log a test form your hand set from another location providing you don’t use WiFi

    #167084 Reply
    Andrew
    Guest

    In the new annual assessment which I have just taken there is a question on our stats and what to do if our stats are different from the national average . The correct answer to this question is to take note of it but not to target those areas which are different and fail/pass a car to get your stats to the national average. So on one hand in the annual assessment they say one thing but then we are told if we stray from the average result we will be seen to be some sort of higher risk? We as testers can only test what’s in front of us and there is no such thing as an average result . This is just another ill thought out plan to label and target MOT testers .

    #167086 Reply
    Christopher Taylor
    Guest

    This is a ridiculous idea as every vehicle is different to have a average on what each car fails on is a impossibility the same as the amount of tests carried out if you exceed the national average you are put in the red.
    Not happy about the situation and red implies that we are doing something wrong.

    #167087 Reply
    Paul
    Guest

    The police force was destroyed due to statistics .
    It’s a shame that common sense does not prevail.
    But unfortunately this is the government way.

    #167090 Reply
    Steve
    Guest

    Using an average is misleading. MOT garages in less affluent areas may have more customers with older vehicles which may not have had the level of maintenance suggested by the manufacturer, this would definitely affect pass rates. Areas with lots of traffic calming can have more suspension issues. Surely the best measure is the actual tester’s skill and the MOT station’s compliance, customer support and service. In today’s society there is no ‘one size fits all’.

    #167127 Reply
    andrew watkins
    Guest

    I used to get questioned by DVSA for failing so many cars on misaligned headlamps, I explained to them that I was carrying out a lot of MOT’s on Police vehicles which were always getting involved in knocks. Also drivers would either fit there own headlamp bulbs when they failed or go to Halfords.
    The Police vehicles are now exempt from Mot Testing so my headlamp alignment failures have gone down and the Police vehicles ??????? who knows.

    #167237 Reply
    CompareNewTyres.com
    Participant

    The DVSA are heading in the right direction as making sure garages and tester are testing right can only be a good thing for car owners. However, producing a traffic light system based on ‘National Averages’ is a flawed system. If all testers across the UK are either too stringent, or not stringent enough, does that make it ok?

    A simpler and more effective system would be to dip sample a set number of garages every month and producing a rating system from that.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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