MOT equipment approved by DVSA
Equipment approved for MOT testing, including tyre tread-depth gauges, roller brake testers, headlamp aim testers, diesel smoke meters and decelerometers.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
Documents
Details
The Garage Equipment Association publishes lists of equipment approved for MOT testing.
Any new or replacement equipment you buy must be on these lists. All equipment must be kept in good working order and calibrated properly.
Connect equipment to the MOT testing service
Some types of equipment can connect directly to the service you use to record MOT test results. This means that test results can be automatically transferred to the service without the need for manual data entry.
Equipment that must be able to connect
New or replacement equipment you buy must be able to connect to the service.
| Equipment type | Date equipment must be able to connect |
|---|---|
| Roller brake testers | 1 October 2019 |
| Decelerometers (class 3, 4, 5 and 7) | 1 February 2020 |
| Diesel smoke meters | 1 May 2021 |
| Exhaust gas analysers | 1 May 2021 |
| Headlamp beam testers | Date to be confirmed |
This rule does not apply to any current equipment you have, unless you need to replace it.
Equipment that cannot connect
Other types of equipment do not yet connect to the service. These include:
- pedal application devices
- plate brake testers
- tyre tread depth gauges
- wheel play detectors
- 13-pin Euro trailer socket wiring testers
How to connect equipment
You need a software code (called a ‘key’) to connect equipment to the MOT testing service.
Your equipment supplier will ask you to request a key and give it to them so they can connect the equipment for your site.
They may ask you to:
- send the key to them so they can preinstall the key or install it remotely
- give the key to the engineer when they’re at your testing station
Each key has a unique suffix number (such as -‘1’). The key will not work at another testing station and only works on one piece of equipment.
How to request a key
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Sign in to the MOT testing service.
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Go to your ‘Vehicle testing station’ page.
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Select ‘Request a key’ under ‘Change and connect equipment’.
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Follow the instructions to create and send the key to your email address.
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Check your email to find your key - make sure your email address is correct in the MOT testing service as the key will be emailed to this email address.
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Open the email attachment and give it to the engineer - the password to open the email attachment will be the user ID you use to sign in to the MOT testing service.
You must keep your key secure. Only give it to the engineer installing your equipment.
Updates to this page
Last updated 19 April 2021 + show all updates
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Updated section 'equipment that must be able to connect' Updated the table to show that diesel smoke meters and exhaust gas analysers must be able to connect by 1 May 2020.
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Updated the information on how to request a key.
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Added that decelerometers for class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicles must be able to connect to the MOT testing service from 1 February 2020.
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Added information about how to connect equipment to the MOT testing service.
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Added information about new or replacement equipment that you buy that must be able to connect to the MOT testing service.
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First published.