MOT fraud on the rise, DVSA figures show

Cases where vehicles are issued pass certificates despite never entering a garage have seen the biggest increase

MOT fraud on the rise, DVSA figures show
Image: Bigstock.

The DVSA has issued a warning to fraudulent MOT testing stations after the number of serious cases relating to dishonesty and negligence more than doubled in 2021 to 2022.

More than 1,300 counts of MOT fraud were recorded in 2021 to 2022, DVSA figures show.

Of these, 710 were the most serious cases related to dishonesty and negligence – more than double the 2017 – 2018 figure.

In 2021, the DVSA banned a total of 127 authorised examiners from running testing stations, and 288 from the MOT scheme.

This included bans for 85 authorised examiners and 185 testers relating to the most serious offences including dishonesty, and gross negligence.

Related: Petition opposing dangerous two-year MOT plans gains momentum

Marian Kitson, director of enforcement at the DVSA said: “We will not allow qualified testers who we entrust to carry out MOTs to abuse a system designed to keep the public safe for their own personal gain.

“We are fortunate to have so many compliant, trustworthy, and honest garages who deliver the MOT safely.

“We want to ensure they are not unfairly disadvantaged by the greed and criminality of the dangerous few individuals seeking to dupe the system.

“The MOT test is designed to keep you and others safe.

“Don’t risk road safety, don’t cheat the system.”

Related: Rogue car dealer ordered to pay thousands over ‘dangerous’ car

The DVSA monitors the industry closely and acts on poor and fraudulent practice through both proactive investigations and in response to reports from the public.

Cases where vehicles aren’t even entering a garage but are issued pass certificates have seen the biggest increase, the agency says.

Marian added: “The latest technology and intelligence-based targeting allows us to track vehicle movements, meaning we know where vehicles are, and where they’re not.

“We can then compare this with MOT test data to ensure the right outcome.”

Recent cases of MOT fraud

The DVSA investigated Thornton-Granville of Mitcham, following a complaint about an MOT conducted on a vehicle in a shocking state of disrepair by member of the public.

An inspection of the vehicle revealed 21 faults, including missing brake pads and missing anti-roll bar.

Corrosion on the car was so severe that the security of the body to the chassis was reduced by more than 50 per cent, critically endangering the driver in any impact scenario.

When presented with DVSA’s evidence the tester admitted and subsequently pleaded guilty to issuing 152 fraudulent MOT pass certificates at City of London Magistrates Court in March.

He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for the charges, suspended for two years on the condition he completes 240 hours unpaid work within that period and ordered to pay a contribution towards prosecution costs of £5,000.

Related: Vast majority of British drivers struggle with basic car maintenance, research shows

138 vehicle MOT certificates issued by Thornton-Granville were cancelled and removed.

Elsewhere, in Hampshire, Paul Rafferty, of Havant was given a prison sentence of 36 weeks in Worthing Magistrates Court on 28 February 2022 following a DVSA investigation.

The sentence was suspended for 12 months for 47 falsely issued MOT certificates over a three-month period.

Rafferty had been issuing the certificates despite the vehicles never entering the two garages he worked at in Petersfield, between November 2020 and January 2021.

All the MOTs of the 47 potentially dangerous vehicles were cancelled. Rafferty was also given the full five-year term ban from MOT testing.

6 Comments

  1. Great, all this anpr no reason why when car reg xxx is entered the street cameras within that area cant keep an eye out for it

    Reply
  2. “The MOT test is designed to keep you and others safe.“Don’t risk road safety, don’t cheat the system.” {Plans to reduce MOT frequency} – So which of these are we to consider really – Absolute wax lyric

    Reply
  3. This sort of practice is nothing New goes back to the old days with the hand written tickets . Have you serviced it ? He’s setting the points timing and carb up just give me the details and they would give you a ticket when you turned up

    Reply
  4. Why suspend his sentence throw him in jail for a bit perhaps it will deter other testers that flaunt the reason for the test

    Reply
  5. Try an mot in Northern Ireland where the constantly fail BMW x5 jeeps for parking brake imbalance despite them being constantly 4wd being tested on a 2wd system. What has a park brake imbalance got to do with safety?. You can’t even switch engine off until gearbox in P.

    Reply
  6. One issue is the ease of doing a fake MOT for a mate sitting in the pub having a pint with your mobile!… they are relying on the honesty of the NT, these days thats a bad move, there are a few that give the honest ones a bad name, just look how many are being passed with no CATs/DPFs….

    Reply

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