Thousands of mechanics still have not completed their training and assessments to carry out MOTs, with only a few months to go before the introduction of new DVSA rules.
Under the regulations announced last year, annual training and assessment is replacing the previous five-year MOT tester refresher course. To keep their status as a verified tester, individuals must take the training and pass the assessment before the end of March. The Government has introduced the new rules to ensure there is continual professional development (CPD) in the industry.
If you operate a garage offering MOT testing, it is your responsibility to ensure your staff are compliant with the law. In addition, if your staff need to drive customers’ vehicles as part of the job, you must also ensue you have the correct levels of road risks insurance in place.
Under the new MOT rules, testers must undergo at least three hours of training a year and 16 hours over the five-year period. Records of this and of the assessment result must also be kept.
According to the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), which offers the assessment, tens of thousands of testers have still to complete the training.
The IMI’s David Easton, former head of MOT education with the DVSA, said: “Testers have still not fully engaged with the new annual training regime and there are still a large number of testers who still haven’t complied with DVSA’s requirements.
“With the festivities now behind us I’m sure that the bulk of responsible MOT testers and their employers will focus on the need to meet the DVSA requirements in order for them to continue testing customer’s vehicles.”
