Opinion 22 November 2026 ǁǁǁ͘ ĂŌ ĞƌŵĂƌŬĞƚŽŶůŝŶĞ͘ ŶĞƚ 400+ withdrawn authorisations highlight MOT management pressures New DVSA figures showing more than 400 MOT authorisations withdrawn during 2025/26 highlight the importance of giving MOT management sufficient focus within increasingly busy workshops, says Autotech Training. The latest DVSA data reveals that 145 Authorised Examiners (AEs) and 288 MOT testers had their authorisation withdrawn during 2025/26. While a further 247 AEs and 176 testers received warnings. However, Rob Walsh, Head of MOT at Autotech Training, says the figures should not be used to suggest there is widespread non-compliance within the sector. Instead, they highlight the responsibility MOT businesses carry and the challenge of maintaining effective oversight alongside the everyday pressures of running a workshop. “The vast majority of MOT businesses and testers take their responsibilities extremely seriously,” commented Rob. “These are busy businesses, often operating under considerable pressure, and compliance is just one of many things a workshop manager may be dealing with on any given day. “That’s why I don’t think these figures should be used to scare garages. They should prompt a conversation about whether the people responsible for an MOT operation have the time, knowledge and processes they need to manage it effectively.” The scale of that management responsibility is also evident in the latest DVSA figures. There are now 781 more nominated MOT testers than there were two years ago, with numbers rising from 66,144 in 2023/24 to 66,925 in 2025/26. Over the same period, the number of private MOT testing stations has remained broadly static, standing at 23,092 in 2025/26. While this does not in itself indicate a compliance issue, Rob says it reinforces the importance of effective management at VTS level. “As the number of testers increases, making sure there is clear and effective oversight at site level becomes even more important. An MOT operation isn’t simply about making sure individual testers know how to conduct a test correctly. “Someone has to maintain oversight of the whole operation – from annual training and QC checks through to equipment, test logs, tester performance and keeping up with changes from DVSA.” The latest figures arrive against a backdrop of changes to MOT oversight. During 2026, DVSA has expanded its fast-track disciplinary process, while the national rollout of Photos at Test is introducing another layer of evidence around individual tests. Rob believes these developments make it increasingly important for those responsible for an MOT operation to understand not only the rules, but how to actively manage compliance. “Most MOT businesses already have a lot of the information they need. Test logs, testing times, pass and fail rates, advisories, and individual tester Good MOT management shouldn’t be about adding another burden to an already busy workshop.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=