Since 18 June 2015, MOT testers have been claiming their accounts for the new MOT testing service. We’ve had a few queries so we thought we’d answer some of them here to help you with any questions you might have about claiming your account.
1. How can I claim my new MOT testing service account?
As explained in MOT special notice 02-15, it’s the Authorised Examiner’s (AE) responsibility to make sure all VTS device / MOT Comp users at their sites have claimed, checked and updated their new account.
All users need to do this as soon as possible using the claim account instructions that DVSA emailed to all AEs on 18 June 2015.
We’ve asked AEs to pass on the claim account instructions to everyone who works at their site so they can claim their new accounts.
2. What do I need to have in order to claim my new account?
To claim your account you’ll need your:
- user name - this is the same as your VTS device / MOT Comp User ID which you can find on the front bottom left of your Smart Card
- one-time password - this is a one-time password which will be sent to your VTS device / MOT Comp Mailbox
Passwords will be sent out individually to everyone who needs access to the new service by 16 July 2015. However, not everyone at your site will receive their password at the same time.
3. Why do I need to claim my new account?
Your MOT testing service account contains all the information about you and your MOT tests and will replace your current VTS device / MOT Comp account.
You must claim your new account so you can:
- use the new service and carry on testing after 22 September 2015
- check your details are correct on the new service
- practise carrying out training tests using the service’s ‘MOT training mode’
- familiarise yourself with the new service
However, you must continue using your VTS device / MOT Comp system until you’ve fully switched over and started carrying out MOT tests on the new service.
4. When do I need to claim my account by?
It’s important that you claim your account immediately to make sure:
- you don’t forget to do so
- you can access the new MOT testing service as quickly as possible
- DVSA can deal with any claim account issues you report
Please make sure you claim your account as soon as possible otherwise this may result in delays to you being able to carry out MOT tests using the new service.
5. What do I need to do once I’ve claimed my account?
Once you’ve claimed your account and logged in to the new service you’ll need to check the following details are correct:
- your personal and email details under ‘your profile’
- your roles
- your AE and VTS details
If any of these details are incorrect then you’ll need to report any problems to our MOT testing service desk on 0330 123 5654 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 2pm Saturday (excluding public holidays).
Please don’t contact your Area Office, Customer Service Centre or the Atos Helpdesk as they won’t be able to help.
6. What can and can’t I do after I’ve claimed my new account?
If you’re a Nominated Tester (NT) you won’t be able to carry out ‘real’ tests after you’ve claimed your account. This means the ‘Start MOT test’ link on your homepage won’t allow you to carry out a full test.
Instead, you’ll be able to practise carrying out MOT tests by clicking the ‘MOT training mode’ link on your homepage.
When using training mode not all vehicle data will be present and you won’t be able to print off a final certificate.
Please also be aware that any changes made on your current VTS device / MOT comp system (eg slot numbers, VTS details) will take 24 hours to transfer onto the new MOT testing service and show up on your new account.
After logging in to the new MOT testing service some functions will be temporarily unavailable and, at this stage, you won’t be able to:
- carry out ‘real’ tests
- buy slots
- print duplicate and replacement certificates
This means that you’ll need to continue using your VTS device / MOT Comp until you’ve fully switched over to the new MOT testing service on your switchover date.
7. When will I receive my switchover date?
Ahead of receiving your switchover date, it’s the AE’s responsibility to make sure that all their MOT Comp users have successfully claimed, checked and updated their new account details.
Your switchover date will be emailed to your site’s listed authorised entity (business) email address under the ‘Correspondence Address’ section on your VTS device / MOT Comp system.
We’ll still send out switchover dates even if everyone at your site has not claimed their accounts.
This means, if you have not claimed your account, you won’t be able to test or use the new service after you’ve been switched over.
8. Who do I contact if I have any problems?
If you have any problems claiming your account or using the new service, please contact our MOT testing service desk on 0330 123 5654 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 2pm Saturday (excluding public holidays).
If you think you haven’t received the claim account instructions email from us, please check your email inbox and junk mail or spam folder before getting in touch. It will have been sent from 'MOT modernisation alerts' on 18 June 2015. If you’ve checked and can’t find it, please email your VTS and AE number to mot.modernisation@vosa.gsi.gov.uk.
Please don’t contact your Area Office, Customer Service Centre or the Atos Helpdesk as they will not be able to help.