UK Statutory Instrument
1981
United Kingdom
Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
18 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 11
- Applicant 1
- Director or Officer 1
- Trader 1
- Contractor 1
Plus 3 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
2 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Applicants also bound by 294 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 46 duties
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 30 duties
- The Land Registration Rules 2003 2003 25 duties
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 18 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 14 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 161 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 108 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 72 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 55 duties
- The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 2018 26 duties
Traders also bound by 826 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 413 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 243 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 114 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 62 duties
- Building Societies Act 1986 1986 56 duties
Contractors also bound by 178 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2015 2015 137 duties
- The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2015 2015 134 duties
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 2015 114 duties
- The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Wales) Regulations 2023 2023 93 duties
- The Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 2004 87 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — GENERAL
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Commencement and citation
Revocation
Interpretation
The prescribed statutory requirements
Classification of Vehicles and Application of Regulations
Exemptions
Part II — APPLICATIONS FOR, AND CONDITIONS AND CESSATIONS OF, APPROVAL, AUTHORISATION AND DESIGNATION
The approval conditions
- Ensure MOT examiner training and notify DVSA of testing locations Any Person
The general authorisation conditions
- Comply with MOT testing authorisation conditions Any Person
The corporate authorisation conditions
- Ensure staff training and notify DVSA of personnel changes Director or Officer
The designation conditions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Councils must follow MOT testing station and inspector rules Local authority
Cessations: return of documents and apparatus
- Return MOT documents and equipment when you stop being an authorised tester Any Person
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Application for approval as nominated tester or inspector or authorisation as authorised examiner
Approvals, authorisations and designations
Cessations: general
Cessations: action by Secretary of State
Application for designation
Supplementary provision relating to vehicle testing station signs
The individual authorisation conditions
Part III — EXAMINATIONS
Applications for examinations
- Offer and record MOT test appointments for vehicle examinations Contractor
Conditions as to responsibility for damage to vehicles and third party liabilities
- Bear responsibility for vehicle damage during MOT testing and do not seek indemnity from customers Any Person
Notification of examinations and results
- Record and report MOT examination results electronically Any Person
Refusal of a test certificate where braking test cannot be carried out
- Stop MOT testing and refuse certificate if braking test is dangerous Any Person
Removal of vehicles submitted for examination
- Remove your vehicle from the testing station after an MOT or examination Any Person
EXAMINATIONS
- Ensure vehicles meet specific conditions before submitting for an MOT test Applicant
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part IV — APPEALS
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part V — FEES
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Fees for examinations
Fees on appeals
Part VI — OTHER MATTERS
Other records to be kept and returns to be furnished
- Keep MOT test records electronically and retain for at least 18 months Any Person
Duplicate test certificates
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- DVSA must issue duplicate MOT certificates upon valid application Statutory regulator
Charges for entries in the electronic record and payments on account
- Pay required fees and maintain credit for MOT electronic records Any Person
Review of the prescribed requirements for tests
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must periodically review MOT test requirements Crown / Minister / Government department
Charges for apparatus, etc. connected with the electronic record
- Pay charges for MOT electronic record apparatus and services Any Person
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Inspection of premises, apparatus and records
Notices
Computation of time
Certificates of temporary exemption
Access to particulars in the records
Sale of particulars in, and information derived from, the records
Correction of errors in records and test certificates
Refunds
Return of apparatus and documents
Schedules
The sign shall be so exhibited that no part thereof...
- Display the MOT testing station sign correctly positioned Any Person
Not more than one sign shall be displayed on each...
- Display no more than one sign per road frontage Trader
Browse 12 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
THE PRESCRIBED STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES IN CLASSES I AND II
CHARGES FOR PURPOSES OF REGULATION 25A
The sign shall be securely fixed against a wall of...
THE PRESCRIBED STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES IN CLASSES I AND II
THE PRESCRIBED STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES IN CLASS III
THE PRESCRIBED STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES IN CLASS IV
THE PRESCRIBED STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES IN CLASS IVA
THE PRESCRIBED STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES IN CLASS V
THE PRESCRIBED STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES IN CLASS VA
THE PRESCRIBED STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES IN CLASS VI
THE PRESCRIBED STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES IN CLASS VIA
THE PRESCRIBED STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES IN CLASS VII
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Regulates drivers, vehicles, and operators in UK road transport. Issues operator licences for goods vehicles (HGVs) and PSVs. Enforces roadworthiness and driver …
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Browse legislation
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Regulators
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