Updates: MOT inspection manual: motorcycles
2023
1.2.1 Add additional paragraph for items not tested.
"“Not tested” or “unable to be tested” should only be used where it becomes apparent during the test that the particular item cannot be tested, and this could not have been identified prior to starting the test. The reason for selecting the failure must be included in the additional information box."
4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
4.1.2 add additional information for items not tested
"“Not tested” or “unable to be tested” should only be used where it becomes apparent during the test that the particular item cannot be tested, and this could not have been identified prior to starting the test. The reason for selecting the failure must be included in the additional information box."
2022
Introduction - 2. Application (Classes 1 and 2) - Bullet point 1 changed from 'Class 1 - motorcycle or motorcycle and sidecar up to 200cc' to 'Class 1 - motorcycles or motorcycle combinations up to 200cc and motorcycles with not more than 4kW maximum continuous rated power and a maximum design speed up to 45km/h (28mph) - Category L1, L3 and L4'
Introduction - 2. Application (Classes 1 and 2) - Bullet point 2 changed from - 'Class 2 - all motorcycles or motorcycle and sidecar combinations including Class 1' to 'Class 2 - all motorcycles or motorcycle combinations other than those in category L1'
Introduction - 2. Application (Classes 1 and 2) - Removed sentence 'Classes 1 and 2 both include categories L1, L3 or L4'
Introduction - 17. Retest following failure - Bullet point added 'carry out another brake performance test and record the results in the MOT testing service, where the braking system may have been affected by the repairs'
2021
Introduction - New section added 18. Testing electric and hybrid motorcycles
Introduction - 4. Refusal to test - Changes to last paragraph
0. Identification of the vehicle
0.1. Identification of the vehicle - Registration plates - Sentence changed from 'Rear registration plates fitted to motorcycles manufactured on or after 1 January 1977 must:' to 'Rear registration plates fitted to motorcycles manufactured on or after 1 January 1980 must:'
0.1. Identification of the vehicle - Registration plates - Sentence changed from 'You do not need to inspect the following items:' to 'You do not need to check:'
0.1. Identification of the vehicle - Registration plates must not - Sentence changed from 'have any feature or fixing that changes the appearance or legibility of any of the characters' to 'have any feature or fixing that changes the appearance or legibility of any of the characters including the use of tints or films'
0.1. Identification of the vehicle - Registration plates - Registration plates may - Bullet point 1 changed
0.1. Identification of the vehicle - Registration plates - Sentence changed from 'Registration plate characters must be:' to 'Registration plate characters:'
0.1. Identification of the vehicle - Registration plates - Registration plate characters - Bullet point 1 changed from 'may contain grey, possibly to achieve a 3D effect' to 'may contain grey, possibly to achieve a 3D or highlighting effect (only on motorcycles first used before 1 September 2021)'
0.1. Identification of the vehicle - Registration plates - Registration plate characters - New bullet point 2 added 'may be raised or 3D'
0.1. Identification of the vehicle - Registration plates - New sentence added 'Rear registration plates fitted to motorcycles first registered on or after 1 September 2021:' and new bullet points added
2. Steering - 2.1.3. Steering linkage condition - New information added for unsafe modifications
2. Steering - 2.2.2. Forks and yokes - New information added for unsafe modifications
2. Steering - 2.4. Wheel alignment - Information added for checking wheel alignment on three-wheeled solo motorcycles
4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
4.1. Headlamps - 4.1.2. Headlamp alignment - New defect (c) added
4.3. Stop lamps - 4.3.3. Compliance with requirements - Amended defect (a)
4.4. Direction indicators - 4.4.3. Compliance with requirements - Amendment to minimum separation distance for mopeds
5. Wheels, tyres and suspension
5.2. Wheels and tyres - 5.2.1. Road wheel security - New defect (d) added 'wheel spindle locking device'
5.3. Suspension - 5.3.3. Suspension arms, rods, linkage etc - New information added for unsafe modifications
6.1. Frame and attachments - 6.1.1. Frame condition - New defect (d) added
7. Audible warning - 7.7. Audible warning (horn) - Amendments to defect (a)
4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
4.1.4 Headlamps - Compliance with requirements - Removed 'Some motorcycles may be fitted with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) headlamps. Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with HID or LED bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.'
4.1.4 Headlamps - Compliance with requirements - Defect removed '(c) Light source and lamp not compatible'
1 Introduction - Abbreviations and definitions - V5/V5C - Changed sentence from 'Vehicle registration certificate issued by DVSA' to 'Vehicle registration certificate issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency'
2 Introduction - Application (Classes 1 and 2) - Changed sentence from 'for example a three-wheeled vehicle with a wheel layout more than 460mm must be tested as a tricycle (Class 3).' to 'for example a three-wheeled vehicle with a wheel layout of 460mm or more must be tested as a tricycle (Class 3).'
10 Introduction - Definition of insecure - Bullet point 3 changed from 'a component critical to safety is not safely or completely attached at its fixing or to an associated component' to 'a safety critical component (braking, steering or suspension system component) isn’t safely attached at its fixing or to an associated component'
10 Introduction - Definition of insecure - Added new Paragraph and bullet points.
16 Introduction - Recording defects - Added information on best practice information.
0. Identification of the vehicle
0.1. Identification of the vehicle - Registration plates - Changed sentence 'display white, grey or silver characters on a black background - only on motorcycles manufactured before 1 January 1977' to 'display white, grey or silver characters on a black background - only on motorcycles manufactured before 1 January 1980'
0.1. Identification of the vehicle - Registration plates - Changed bullet from 'be mounted at the rear of the motorcycle' to 'be mounted towards the rear of the motorcycle'
4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
4.1.4 Headlamps - Compliance with requirements - Sentence changed from 'Some motorcycles may be fitted with high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps. Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with HID bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.' to 'Some motorcycles may be fitted with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) headlamps. Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with HID or LED bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.'
4.2.1 Front and rear position lamps - Presence, condition and operation - Deleted sentences 'A motorcycle combination must have 2 front and 2 rear position lamps.' 'A motorcycle with a headlamp does not need to have a front position lamp.' 'A sidecar must have a front position lamp.'
4.2.1 Front and rear position lamps - Presence, condition and operation - Added sentence 'A motorcycle (with or without a sidecar) fitted with a headlamp need not have a front position lamp. However, one must be fitted to the sidecar if a sidecar is fitted.'
4.2.1 Front and rear position lamps - Presence, condition and operation - Added sentence 'A motorcycle (with or without a sidecar) must have a rear position lamp. If a sidecar is fitted then the sidecar must be fitted with a rear position lamp.'
4.2.1 Front and rear position lamps - Presence, condition and operation - Sentence changed from 'A headlamp or a daytime running lamp (DRL) can function as a front position lamp. The DRL may or may not switch off or dim when the headlamp(s) are switched on and the engine is running.' to 'A daytime running lamp (DRL) can function as a front position lamp. The DRL may or may not switch off or dim when the headlamps are switched on and the engine is running.'
4.2.2 Front and rear position lamps - Switching - Deleted sentence 'A headlamp or a daytime running lamp can function as a front position lamp.'
4.3.1 Stop lamps - Presence, condition and operation - Sentence changed from 'have had stop lamps permanently disconnected, painted over or masked' to 'have had front and rear position lamps permanently disconnected, painted over or masked'
4.3.2 Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - Stop lamps - Switching - Applicable from 1 February 2021 - Defect (a) (iii) wording changed from 'remain on when the brakes are released' to 'does not illuminate by the operation of both brake controls or remains on when the brakes are released'
2019
Moved this section to GOV.UK. The following changes were made to this section between 20 May 2018 and 24 September 2019.
13 September 2018
17 Retest following failure. Updated a bullet point to say ‘any minor defect or item advised on at the time of the initial test’.
0. Identification of the vehicle
Moved this section to GOV.UK. The following changes were made to this section between 20 May 2018 and 24 September 2019.
13 September 2018
0.1 Registration plates. Updated the items that do not need to be inspected.
0.2 Vehicle identification number. Added a sentence to explain testers need to check that there is not more than one VIN displayed on the vehicle. Added new defect 0.2.c 'More than one different VIN displayed'.
Moved this section to GOV.UK. The following changes were made to this section between 20 May 2018 and 24 September 2019.
20 June 2019
1.1.15 Brake cables, rods, levers and linkages. Added a sentence to say 'A component such as a brake rod should be considered to be excessively worn or corroded if its diameter is reduced by more than a third.'
13 September 2018
1.1.12 Flexible brake hoses. Added new defect 1.1.12.f for corroded brake hose ferrules. Updated existing defect 1.1.12.b.ii to say 'Flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched'
Moved this section to GOV.UK. The following changes were made to this section between 20 May 2018 and 24 September 2019.
13 September 2018
2.2.2 Forks and yokes. Added information to clarify how to raise the wheels clear of ground. Changed defect 2.2.2.f.i wording to 'Steering head bearings excessively stiff, notchy, or with excessive wear or play’.
Moved this section to GOV.UK. No changes were made to this section between 20 May 2018 and 24 September 2019.
5. Wheels, tyres and suspension
Moved this section to GOV.UK. The following changes were made to this section between 20 May 2018 and 24 September 2019.
20 June 2019
5.3.2 Shock absorbers. Added sentence 'On most motorcycles front shock absorbers will be incorporated into front forks.'
5.3.3 Suspension arms, rods, linkage etc. Added sentence 'The machine should be jacked so that the wheels are hanging free.' Added sentences ‘Some fork arrangements rely on the bracing incorporated in the mudguard fixings to maintain their alignment. If a mudguard is insecurely fixed to the forks, it may adversely affect the handling of the machine.'
13 September 2018
5.2.1 Road wheel security. Added new defects 5.2.1.c. i and ii for loose wheel spindle, securing nuts or locking device.
5.2.3 Tyres. Updated existing defects 5.2.3.d i and ii. Added new defect 5.2.3.i 'tyre not fitted in compliance with the manufacturer's sidewall instructions'. Added new defect 5.2.3.j 'A tyre valve seriously damaged or misaligned likely to cause sudden deflation of the tyre'. Added new defect 5.2.3.k 'A tyre incorrectly seated on the wheel rim'.
5.3.2 Shock absorbers. Added new defect 5.3.2.c 'A shock absorber bush excessively worn'.
5.3.3 Suspension arms, rods, linkage etc. Added new defect 5.3.3.d 'Excessive wear or free play in suspension component'.
Moved this section to GOV.UK. The following changes were made to this section between 20 May 2018 and 24 September 2019.
13 September 2018
6.1.2 Exhaust system. Updated existing defect 6.1.2.a description.
6.1.7 Transmission. Added new defect 6.1.7.k i and ii for excessively tight transmission belt or chain.
Moved this section to GOV.UK. The following changes were made to this section between 20 May 2018 and 24 September 2019.
13 September 2018
7.7 Audible warning (horn). Updated existing defect 7.7.c.
Moved this section to GOV.UK. No changes were made to this section between 20 May 2018 and 24 September 2019.
Appendix A: Structural integrity and corrosion
Moved this section to GOV.UK. No changes were made to this section between 20 May 2018 and 24 September 2019.