What is MOT TQI?

Short answer

MOT Test Quality Information (TQI) is data available within the MOT Testing Service that summarises how testing is being carried out at a Vehicle Testing Station. It shows failure rates, test durations, vehicle age profiles and component failure breakdowns — compared against site and national averages.

TQI helps Authorised Examiners (AEs) and Site Managers spot differences in testing patterns that may warrant further investigation. It does not automatically determine whether testing is good or bad.

What TQI shows

TQI presents statistical summaries of initial MOT test results (not retests). The data is shown by vehicle test group and can be viewed for:

• the last full calendar month, or
• the last three full calendar months.

The main metrics include:

| Metric | What it shows | |--------|--------------| | Number of tests | Total initial tests in the period | | Average vehicle age | Age profile of vehicles tested | | Failure rate | Percentage of tests resulting in a fail, compared to site and national averages | | Average test duration | How long tests take compared to averages | | Component failure rates | Which test areas (brakes, lighting, steering, etc.) are producing failures |

Who can access TQI

TQI is available to users with appropriate MOT Testing Service roles:

• AE Designated Managers (AEDMs) — see all sites under their AE
• Site Managers — see their own site
• Testers — see their own personal data
• AE Consultants (AECs) — read-only advisory access

DVSA vehicle examiners also review TQI data before visiting a VTS for assessment.

Why TQI matters

DVSA expects AEs to have quality management systems in place. TQI provides evidence to support that responsibility by letting you:

• compare your station's testing patterns to national norms;
• compare individual testers within a site;
• identify differences that may be worth investigating;
• demonstrate that you are actively reviewing test quality.

Critical point: differences are not automatic problems

A tester with a higher-than-average failure rate is not automatically doing something wrong — they may be testing a different vehicle mix, working at a site that attracts older vehicles, or simply applying the manual correctly while others are more lenient.

Equally, an unusually low failure rate does not prove poor testing. Context matters.

TQI is comparison evidence that supports human review. It is not a compliance score.

How TQI is typically used

1. Download or view the TQI / Manager Report from the MOT Testing Service.
2. Check the reporting period and vehicle group.
3. Review site-level figures against national averages.
4. Review individual tester figures where differences stand out.
5. Consider contextual factors (vehicle mix, test volume, specialisation).
6. Investigate further if warranted (observation, QC check, discussion).
7. Record what you found and any actions taken.

Common misconceptions

• "A high failure rate means a tester is too strict." Not necessarily — they may be testing older vehicles or applying the manual correctly.
• "A low failure rate is always good." Not necessarily — it could indicate that borderline vehicles are being passed when they should not.
• "TQI tells you who is non-compliant." It does not. It provides comparison data for human interpretation.
• "Small differences in percentages are significant." At low test volumes, percentage differences can be large without being meaningful. Volume matters.

How MOT Lens helps with TQI

MOT Lens imports the same TQI data (Manager Report) and structures it for ongoing review:

• Site vs national comparison presented clearly
• Tester-level comparison within each site
• One-month and three-month views side by side
• Component breakdown
• Historical snapshots so you can track trends
• Review trail — record what you checked and what you concluded

MOT Lens does not assign good/bad scores. It presents comparison evidence and lets the AE record their review.

FAQ

What does TQI stand for?

Test Quality Information — performance data within the MOT Testing Service.

How often is TQI updated?

TQI shows data for the last full calendar month or last three full calendar months. It updates as new months become available.

Is TQI the same as the Manager Report?

The Manager Report is the downloadable report that includes TQI data. The terms are often used interchangeably in practice.

Can I download TQI as a CSV?

TQI data is available through the MOT Testing Service Performance dashboard. The format depends on the specific report/view.

Does DVSA use TQI?

Yes. DVSA vehicle examiners review TQI data as part of their preparation before site visits.

Does a difference in TQI automatically mean something is wrong?

No. Differences are comparison evidence. They may indicate something worth investigating, or they may reflect legitimate variation in vehicle mix, site type or testing approach.