MOT Authorised Examiner Responsibilities Explained
A clear guide to what an MOT Authorised Examiner (AE) is responsible for — quality management, tester oversight, equipment, records, and the roles that support them.
Guides
Guides
Practical guidance for running an MOT station and understanding MOT Lens workflows.
Authorised Examiners
MOT Site Manager responsibilities: day-to-day oversight
What the MOT Site Manager is responsible for at a Vehicle Testing Station — including tester supervision, equipment coordination, booking oversight, first-line QC, and how Site Manager evidence connects to AE responsibilities.
What is an AE Designated Manager (AEDM)?
AE Designated Manager (AEDM) role in a MOT testing station — what an AEDM does, what DVSA expects, and how AEDM oversight links to other roles like the Site Manager and AE Consultant (AEC).
What is an MOT AE Consultant (AEC)?
AE Consultant (AEC) role in a MOT testing station — why it is non-mandatory, how its read-only access works, and what it can (and cannot) do on the MOT Testing Service.
Testers
MOT tester annual assessment: what to expect
What the MOT tester annual assessment is for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 — including the 30-question format, 80% pass mark, certificate location, and suspension if you miss the deadline.
MOT Tester Annual Training: Requirements and Records
Current requirements for MOT tester annual training and assessment — training year, hours, assessment process, recording on MTS, and consequences of non-completion.
MOT tester training hours: how much training you need
Training hours for MOT testers for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 — including the 3 hours per group requirement, Group A/B differences, and how to plan training for the annual assessment.
MOT tester training records: what to keep
Keeping evidence of MOT tester annual training — what training records should include, how to retrieve them, and what to do for the 2026 to 2027 training year.
Quality control
MOT QC records: what a useful record contains
What makes a useful MOT quality control (QC) record — what to document, how to show corrective follow-up, and how QC evidence supports DVSA quality management reviews.
MOT Quality Control: A Practical Guide for Test Stations
What quality control means in MOT station operation — tester monitoring, QC checks, record keeping, follow-up actions and how to build an effective QC system.
TQI
How to Read MOT TQI: Site, Tester and National Comparisons
A practical guide to interpreting MOT Test Quality Information — site figures, tester figures, national comparisons, one-month vs three-month data, and component breakdowns.
MOT TQI Analysis: A Practical Guide for Authorised Examiners
A step-by-step operational guide for AEs reviewing Test Quality Information — from downloading the report to recording outcomes and follow-up actions.
What Is MOT TQI? A Guide for MOT Managers and Testers
MOT Test Quality Information (TQI) is performance data within the MOT Testing Service that summarises testing patterns at your station. Learn what it shows, who uses it and why it matters.
MTS & test logs
How to Download MOT Test Logs from the MOT Testing Service
Step-by-step instructions for downloading MOT test logs from the MOT Testing Service Performance dashboard, including date selection and CSV export.
MOT Test Logs: What They Show and How to Review Them
MOT test logs are records of every MOT test conducted at your station, available through the MOT Testing Service. Learn what they contain, who uses them and how to review them effectively.
MTS Test Log CSV: Fields and What They Mean
A reference guide to the fields in an MOT Testing Service test log CSV export — what each column contains and why an AE or Site Manager might review it.
Equipment
MOT equipment calibration: certificates and records
How MOT test equipment calibration works in practice — including what to keep, calibration certificate retention (at least 2 years including expired), and how to make calibration evidence readily retrievable.
MOT equipment register: what to record
An equipment register for MOT testing stations — what information to keep, how to reflect calibration status, and how it links to maintenance and calibration evidence.