New rules around MOT tests will be rolled out for drivers across the UK from next week, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed.
From 3 August, MOT testers at selected garages will be able to take and upload a photo of a vehicle during the test using a device like a smartphone or tablet. It marks the first part of a wider rollout.
This will provide additional evidence that the vehicle was present at the garage during the test, DVSA said, deterring the risk of fraudulent MOT activity.
The move is aimed at tackling the rising issue of ‘ghost MOTs’ in the UK, where a vehicle is recorded as having passed the test without any inspection.
This is illegal under motoring laws, with the annual safety inspection designed to check the status of components like brakes, tyres and lights. The chance of dangerous road incidents increases when these components are faulty.
Some 1,809 fraudulent MOTs were uncovered by the DVSA in 2024, up from 976 in 2023 – nearly double.
Carrying out a ghost MOT can see the tester banned for life, and possibly be prosecuted for fraud.
Many drivers may also not be aware that their vehicle has undergone a fake MOT, meaning they are unaware that they are putting themselves and others in danger when using the roads.
In guidance to testers, the DVSA said: “The feature allows MOT testers to take and upload a photo of a vehicle at the time of test using a smartphone, tablet or other compatible mobile device.
“Around 2,500 garages across Great Britain will get access to the feature during this phase of the rollout.
“Further phases will be introduced and reviewed as the rollout continues. If your garage is not selected to be part of this phase, you do not need to do anything. Your garage will get this feature at a later date.”
Andy Turbefield, MOT expert and head of quality at Halfords, said in April: “Ghost MOTs are a clear example of rogue garages and MOT testers taking advantage of the system.
“The only way to be 100 per cent sure an MOT has been conducted is to do another one, via the DVSA appeal process. This difficulty in spotting if a car has had a ghost MOT means the official figures likely only scratch the surface.
The motoring expert recommends drivers choose a reputable MOT provider, such as one of the many that are DVSA-approved. He adds that an MOT should take 40 to 50 minutes, with very short inspections being a clear warning sign.
He said: “The impact on motorists can be huge in terms of safety – MOTs check key safety components like tyres and brakes. It’s a matter of time until someone is killed. The reality is that we may have already had accidents and deaths as a result of ghost MOTs and we simply don’t know.”
