DVSA has completed the first Images in Garages trial – one of the building blocks that will help us tackle errors at MOT and fraudulent “Ghost” MOTs.
In March, we asked a group of garages to take a photo of each car when it comes in for an MOT – providing evidence that the vehicle was present – this photo being automatically uploaded into the digital MOT Testing Service.
In time, this change will help reduce fraudulent MOTs, ensuring all vehicles are present for tests and retests, improving road safety and compliance.
We’re pleased to share the results of the first round of this trial – and to update you on where we’re going next.
Trial results
The six-week nationwide trial saw just over 170 MOT testers in 62 garages take part. Together, they cover all vehicle classes and include independent garages, chains, dealerships and local council testing stations.
Using a mobile phone or tablet, testers were asked to take a photo and upload it through the MOT Testing System (MTS) – where it was attached to the MOT record for that vehicle.
The response has been impressive.
Around 450-500 photos were uploaded each weekday – by the end, over 13,000 photos from all 62 garages had been submitted.
Testers were able to get to grips with the technology quickly and by the end of the first week, the top 10 busiest garages in the trial had an upload success rate of 90.2%.
Image quality
The trial has allowed us to review the images and see where any common mistakes are. We know that testers needed to get used to uploading photos – so spotting common themes helps us to provide the best guidance.
We’ve included a few examples here. The number plates have been blocked out for the blog – but testers will be pleased to hear they were visible when they came in.
This is a strong example. It clearly shows the vehicle in a garage setting with the number plate visible. Sharp-eyed testers may not be surprised to see it failed its MOT.
A perfect illustration of a tester following MTS guidance. It also highlights a well-maintained workshop, which could spark conversations within your garage around good housekeeping.
A great example in terms of image quality, though not taken in the right location. This is a useful example which prompts us to clarify our guidelines.
The trial has allowed us to catch these issues early – but it also raises some important changes we will need to make. For example – if we evolve the system to automatically capture registration plates, we will need to make sure the software can sift out those on other vehicles.
Spotting these help us plan for the future – and will be considered when we run the second phase of the trial.
Early feedback
We surveyed those involved in the trial and found that half of the respondents said the experience was “easy” or “very easy” – with only 7% reporting it was “difficult”.
When we spoke to garages, one user said it was “painless and stress-free” – with another describing it as “wonderful!”
When users encountered technical issues, they remained positive, and we were able to fix some of these as they were reported to us. An issue with expiring QR codes was resolved through the trial, image timestamps were fixed, and we fixed an issue with the QWERTY keypad opening when it shouldn’t – all contributing to a smoother user experience.
It was suggested that taking images would lead to longer testing times. Photographs are taken at the beginning of tests and retests – so vehicles need to move back into the bay.
For the top 10 garages, the average test time for the first test remained at 40 minutes. The retest time was at 9 minutes – up from 7 previously. We are now working with garages to reduce this time by removing any technical barriers to the photos being uploaded.
The future
The success means DVSA will be widening the trial with more garages after we’ve collated all of the feedback from the garages who took part in the first trial. This will help us to get insight on how we can improve the software and process for every kind of garage.
We know there’s still room to refine and enhance image capture and upload, and we’ll continue making improvements as we go. The second phase of the trial will focus on testing the system at scale to ensure it’s ready for a phased rollout.
But we also know the garages who signed up for the service are continuing to use this – and anyone involved in the trial can be sure they are working with DVSA to combat MOT fraud.
Read more about why we’re doing this here: How we’re combating fraud and error within the MOT – Matters of Testing
12 comments
Comment by Christopher Cullen posted on
This will be the best thing for the country this will stop the people who think they can put pressure on mot stations and get mots for cars in other country’s
Well done looking forward to being mandatory cc
Comment by Cornel-Florin Veres posted on
As a mot tester I'm more than happy with the improvements and I can't wait for the system to improve with pictures and combat all the MOT ghosts for more safety on our roads.
Comment by tim posted on
This system needs to reliable and in use asap to combat the issues us testers face on a daily basis
Comment by IAN AINSLEY posted on
It is extremely worrying that the DVSA feel the need to apply such methods as this in the first place as there are already sufficient penalties in place to stop mot stations from carrying out testing on vehicles not on site at the time of test.
Comment by Steve martin posted on
Only that it's a good idea for numerous
Reasons
Comment by Lee posted on
It's been fabulous addition to the MTS and has only improved security and accuracy in my opinion. Anyone who doesn't want this must have something to hide. Why wouldn't you want to show a vehicle was present should concerns be raised through cloned vehicles or fraud.
Comment by James posted on
May I suggest that the MOT price is increased in line with inflation since 2010 and the extra equipment costs now imposed on testing centres before this is made mandatory.
Comment by Richard Watson posted on
When will we receive an increase in Mot Fee’s ? It’s been the same since April 2010
The cost of wages & increase rises in new equipment are crippling the Motor Trade
Comment by David posted on
MOT Juice did a decent video on how it worked. Look simple and easy to use. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msq90H6BF08&t=9s
Comment by Tony Jones posted on
I think the garage VTS number should be attached to the area were the photo is taken so that it can be in co-operated in the photo to further prove that the car is in the correct mot test bay.
Comment by keith posted on
Are you supplying a camera to use?
Because DLSA cannot expect testers you use there own personal phone cameras for work, some don't have smart phones so what happens then?
Comment by Chris posted on
Hopefully it’s not going to be massively silly where a simple single failure of a position light off, washer fluid empty or a bad wiper isn’t going to need to be pulled onto the ramp physically to be checked. Granted other fails such as suspension needs affected area checking, I feel having to pull a car into a ramp to photograph it (could get the garage in view on the retest photo) isn’t going to be needed.