The DVSA has highlighted the need for MOT testers to complete their MOT Training and Assessment before the 31 March deadline.
The government body has stated that each year, it has seen an increase in the number of testers completing their MOT annual training on time. With just over three months until the final cut-off date for 2026, it wants to maintain this progress.
To help towards this goal, the DVSA has highlighted the information needed for testers to complete the MOT annual training, on its Matters of Testing blog.
In the 2024-25 financial year, across all vehicle classes, testers helped complete 35,229,047 MOTs. To put that into perspective, that is more than one MOT per second throughout the year.
Prepare for MOT annual training
Technicians will need to complete three hours of training before they can take the annual assessment. However, the DVSA highlights that this can be done in ways that suit, with the time spread across the year, or tackled in larger chunks.
For those that have yet to tackle the three hours requirement, this can be done in one-hour sessions between now and March, which will still get you towards the deadline comfortably.
In addition, some parts of normal, everyday work can contribute to the MOT annual training, such as reading special notices and the MOT inspection manuals. The DVSA also suggests taking part in a group question and answer session with colleagues to help.
However, testers must also study the set topics for the year, based on what the DVSA has identified from its testing data in the MOT Training and Assessment Guidance.
To pass the annual training and assessment, you must keep an electronic training log on your MTS profile. Technicians can see this under ‘View annual training log’ on their profile.
It needs to show:
- The date of the training
- How long the training session lasted
- What topics you covered during the session
- Notes on what you did, how you did it and what you learnt
Testers will not be able to log the previous year’s training, so all training should be logged before the year ends.
Sitting the assessment
The MOT annual training assessment is online, so those undertaking it can do so from home, the workplace, or through a training provider. The test consists of 30 multiple-choice questions, and testers have one hour to complete the assessment.
To help, the DVSA has provided a list of the types of questions technicians will be asked for Group A (class 1 & 2) and for Group B (class 3, 4, 5 & 7) to help prepare beforehand.
Those undertaking the assessment can use notes and the MOT inspection manual during the assessment. The pass mark is 80%, but the test can be taken again if the first attempt results in a fail.
There is further information about the annual assessment on GOV.UK.
