Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- DVSA
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 10 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
What you must do
10 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Inspections 3
Apply for and prepare a vehicle for statutory examination
If you need a vehicle tested under the Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations you must submit a written application (or a verbal one if it’s a re‑examination within 28 days). You also need to provide the registration book or other proof of the vehicle’s identity, pay any fees in advance and make sure the vehicle is clean, fuelled, free of dangerous items and meets any special requirements (e.g. driver present, wheelchair restraints). Failure to meet these conditions means the examiner can refuse to carry out the test.
Apply for vehicle examinations in the correct form and within time limits
When you need a road‑worthiness test for a vehicle, you must submit an application in the way the Regulations require. For Class VI or VIA tests you must send a written request to the Secretary of State (unless it’s a re‑examination within 28 days). For other classes you can arrange the test by phone, in‑person or in writing with an authorised examiner. The examiner must then schedule the test promptly and keep a record of the appointment.
Record and issue a refusal notice when a safe braking test cannot be performed
If, during a MOT test, the examiner finds defects that would make a braking test dangerous, they must stop the test, finish the rest of the inspection, record the failure in the electronic system and give the vehicle owner a formal refusal notice (VT30/VT30W). Where the electronic system cannot be used, a paper notice must be issued and later entered into the system when it becomes available.
Management duties 4
Comply with approval conditions for vehicle examinations
If your business or you personally hold an approval to carry out vehicle tests, you must first complete the required training, tell the Secretary of State which test station you will use, only test the vehicle classes you are authorised for, use the approved testing methods and standards, and attend any further training the Secretary of State demands.
Comply with authorisation conditions for vehicle testing stations
If you run a vehicle testing station, you must stick to the limits set on what vehicles and tests you can carry out, only allow approved (nominated) testers to work, keep the Secretary of State informed of who those testers are, ensure test certificates and refusal notices are signed by the correct person, display the required signage and authorisation information, supervise the nominated testers, and make your facilities available for inspection or complaint investigations when given at least three days’ notice.
Maintain training and notify DVSA of changes to your authorised examiner company or partnership
If your business is authorised to carry out vehicle tests, you must make sure at least one director, senior manager or partner has completed the official examiner training course. You also have to tell the DVSA within 7 days whenever the partnership structure changes or a director, secretary or senior manager joins or leaves the company.
Remove vehicle from test station within two days after examination
When you send a vehicle to an authorised test centre, you must make sure it is taken back from the examiner’s custody as soon as the test is finished. Unless the examiner gives you extra time, the vehicle must be removed by the end of the second day after the test is completed (or after you are notified that the test is finished).
Payments and fees 1
Pay fees for electronic test record entries
If you run a vehicle‑testing station (or are a designated council that carries out vehicle tests), you must pay a fee of £2.05 for each test record you enter into the electronic system. The payment has to be made in advance, in blocks of 100 entries, and must be linked to the specific testing station.
Record keeping 2
Enter vehicle test details and issue certificates electronically
Before you test a vehicle you must have the required VT20/VT30 forms and log your intention, the registration mark and VIN in the electronic system. After the test you must record whether the vehicle meets the statutory requirements, confirm any other required entries and issue a test certificate or refusal notice generated by the system (or a paper form if the system fails). If the electronic record is temporarily unavailable you must follow the backup procedure and later confirm the entries when the system is back online.
Obtain a duplicate MOT test certificate if the original is lost
If your vehicle’s MOT certificate is lost or damaged, you must apply for a replacement within 18 months of the original test. You can do this at any DVSA office or test centre, provide the vehicle’s registration and any other requested details, and pay a £10 fee. The duplicate will be marked “Duplicate” and is treated the same as the original.
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sections and provisions
43 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 12
- s.12 Applications for examinations obligation with respect
- s.15 Notification of examinations and results he
- s.16 Refusal of a test certificate where braking test cannot be carried out person or damage
- s.17 Removal of vehicles submitted for examination
- s.23 Duplicate test certificates
- s.25 Charges for entries in the electronic record and payments on account
- s.31 Review of the prescribed requirements for tests
- EXAMINATIONS EXAMINATIONS obligation with respect
- The approval conditions The approval conditions -
- The corporate authorisation conditions The corporate authorisation conditions
- The designation conditions The designation conditions
- The general authorisation conditions The general authorisation conditions
Powers 16
- s.7 Application for approval as nominated tester or inspector or authorisation as authorised examiner
- s.8 Approvals, authorisations and designations
- s.9 Cessations: general
- s.10 Cessations: action by Secretary of State
- s.11 Cessations: return of documents and apparatus
- s.18 Appeal on refusal of a test certificate
- s.21 Fees on appeals
- s.22 Other records to be kept and returns to be furnished
- s.24 Inspection of premises, apparatus and records
- s.29 Access to particulars in the records
- s.30 Sale of particulars in, and information derived from, the records
- Charges for apparatus, etc. connected with the ele Charges for apparatus, etc. connected with the electronic record
- Correction of errors in records and test certifica Correction of errors in records and test certificates
- Refunds Refunds
- Return of apparatus and documents Return of apparatus and documents
- The individual authorisation conditions The individual authorisation conditions