The DVSA has come under fire from experts who have warned that the agency's plan to reduce the number of MOT fraud cases risks "undermining standards".
Since 2023, the DVSA has been trialling ways to stamp out "ghost MOTs" which account for 80 per cent of all false certificates issued each year. It involves vehicles passing their MOt without being inspected.
Last month, the DVSA introduced new measures to tackle this with instructors now taking photographs of cars in their garage test bays as evidence they have been inspected.
The image must show the front or rear of the vehicle, including the number plate, and be uploaded to the MOT testing system before the test can continue.
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The changes to the testing aim to reduce the number of fraudulent MOTsDVSA "This will help all of us to crack down on fraud," said the DVSA's head of MOT policy, Chris Price. However, a former MOT test enforcement inspector has criticised the flawed system.
The inspector, who asked not to be identified, said that using a tester's camera risked the image being altered by digital tools such as Photoshop.
Speaking to Autocar said: "I don't think the DVSA realises quite how far this stuff has come on. There were around seven inspectors in my region [in the late 2010s].
"Now there's just one, who I calculate must be responsible for hundreds of garages. I know of some garages that haven't had an inspection visit for seven years. I believe testing standards are suffering as a result."
Responding to the criticisms, Price explained that the DVSA enforcement examiners will continue to play a "key role" in tackling fraud by targeting specific enforcement efforts.
He added: "The DVSA has 102 full-time-equivalent examiners who solely do MOT work, a specialist MOT Investigation team and a dedicated MOT Intelligence Hub."
Price noted that the DVSA's overall effort on MOT enforcement has been consistent in recent years and its "performance in catching offenders has improved year on year".
According to DVSA records, between 2020 and 2022, 687 MOT testers were disqualified by the DVSA and a further 228 in the 2022-23 period.
Meanwhile, DVSA director of enforcement, Marian Kitson, commented: "The DVSA is fully committed to taking action against anyone who undermines the integrity of the MOT service and compromises road safety."
However, a recent Freedom of Information request has revealed that more than 10 per cent of cars that passed their MOT tests in 2023 should have failed. This is equivalent to some 2.9 million cars with potentially dangerous defects still being allowed on UK roads.
Industry insiders have also raised concerns about the MOT test fee, which has been frozen at £54.85 for over a decade.
A serving MOT tester told Autocar: "I spend more time completing forms than testing cars. It does increasingly feel like we're doing the DVSA's work."
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The changes to MOT tests hoped to ensure greater safety for road users and pedestrians
PASome garage owners have argued that without a fee increase, there's little incentive to invest in new equipment or maintain testing standards. But Price emphasised that the photo requirement is intended to act as a deterrent to those looking to exploit the system, rather than replacing traditional enforcement.
However, industry experts remain divided on whether technology-based solutions can effectively combat fraud without addressing underlying issues.
